NAIROBI, May 29, 2024— Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's office has firmly denied reports that he is planning to exit the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) to form a new political party. The clarification comes in response to a story published by the Daily Nation, which claimed Gachagua was exploring alliances with The New Democrats (TND) due to internal rifts within the ruling party..Download our App for free
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he Daily Nation reported that Gachagua had been in discussions with TND's leadership about a possible political partnership. The newspaper quoted TND Secretary General David Musembi and former TND Deputy Party Leader Jimmy Kibaki, suggesting that Gachagua’s representatives had been in talks with the party officials.However, Gachagua's office refuted these claims, branding them as baseless and malicious. Njeri Rugene, head of communications for the Office of the Deputy President (ODP), issued a statement condemning the reports. "This one-sided, false, and concocted story is laced with innuendos and malice. To associate His Excellency the Deputy President with another political party, especially one with questionable associations, can only have been done in bad faith," Rugene said.
The statement emphasized that Gachagua remains the substantive deputy party leader of UDA and that there are no plans for him to leave the party. It accused the Daily Nation of attempting to undermine Gachagua's role within UDA and called for a retraction and an apology from the newspaper.
"This fabricated article is intended to disparage and attack the integrity of His Excellency Rigathi Gachagua. We demand a retraction of this fabricated article and an apology with the same prominence," Rugene added.
The reports come amid ongoing divisions within UDA, where elected leaders have taken sides, leading to speculation about potential splits. However, Gachagua's office has sought to quash any rumors about his departure from the party.
The political landscape in Kenya remains dynamic, and while Gachagua's office has dismissed the current claims, the situation underscores the broader uncertainties and internal tensions within UDA.
