- Rigathi Gachagua accused the leaders of the North East of neglecting the citizens while living a comfortable life in Nairobi, causing journalists from the region to boycott the planned interview with him
- Journalists said they could not provide a platform for divisive remarks, saying his recent remarks risked promoting a harmful narrative.
- Gachagua dismissed their arguments as threats from local leaders, expressing disappointment after cutting short his interview leave
Former vice president Rigathi Gachagua he has blamed political leaders from North Eastern Kenya after journalists from the region boycotted his interview.
Source: Twitter
Gachagua was scheduled to speak to journalists to highlight the challenges that have faced the area for some time.
He accuses the political leadership of the North East for neglecting their citizens as they live richly in Nairobi.
Why did journalists refuse an interview with Gachagua
However, in an unexpected situation, journalists withdrew from interviews with the media, citing Gachagua’s insults against leaders.
In their statement, they said in part that “we cannot in good conscience provide a platform that risks promoting harmful narratives”.
They added that;
“Interviews would not be in line with our core principles. Recent public statements and statements by Hon. Gachagua have increasingly been cited as divisive, emphasizing ethnic and regional divisions at a time when Kenya needs voices that unite instead of divide.”
Responding to the development, Gachagua ignored the argument of conscience as directed by journalists, saying that it was a matter of threats.
What did Gachagua say after the journalists boycotted the interview with him
He noted that journalists were the ones who reached him after his remarks about the state of development in the North East.
Therefore, it could not be a matter of conscience, as the journalists explained.
He claimed the leaders allowed male and female journalists not to attend interviews.
Gachagua expressed disappointment that he cut his beach vacation short but the interview stopped.
“Borana and Somalia radio stations sought an audience with me after I touched on issues in North East Kenya. They said they were grateful for what I said, and wanted to share with me about those issues. When they sought me, I was on vacation in Mombasa, and I decided that if the residents of Marsabit, Isiolo, Wajir, Mandera, Garissa wanted to talk to me, I would not refuse it. I boarded a plane and returned ready for an interview, and the stations were prepared. But now they have been intimidated, threatened and restricted by the leaders from those five counties,” he said.
He said his target was low class citizens at the grassroots level who do not have social media skills.
According to him, the leaders have robbed the common people and therefore do not want the truth to be known.
Source: Facebook
He accused the leaders of hiding money and investing in Nairobi and abroad while leaving their citizens to suffer, despite the introduction of devolution that should have uplifted those areas.
Gachagua ignored the argument of the leaders that the North and North East of Kenya have been left behind due to exclusion in the administrations that followed after independence.
He said he wanted to tell the locals the truth, why the leaders chose to risk the planned interview.
What Gachagua said about national schools
This came weeks after Gachagua advanced an offensive against Kenyan leaders for neglecting their backyards.
He referenced the admission in national schools, especially in Kiambu Countywhere he noted that children from other counties were being offered places at the expense of locals.
Gachagua argued that schools in Mount Kenya was getting overwhelmed with admissions because other regions had failed to invest in learning institutions.
To reduce pressure on the few national schools in Mt Kenya, he called on leaders to prioritize their areas in terms of development.
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