Gathoni Wamuchomba Offers Apology to Rigathi Gachagua in Fresh Appeal

Kenyan politician Gathoni Wamuchomba has made a public appeal to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, offering to apologize personally if her actions during their political fallout caused him offense. In her weekly broadcast over the weekend, Wamuchomba urged Gachagua to meet her face-to-face and resolve their growing rift. The two Mt Kenya politicians have been at odds since critics accused Wamuchomba of acting as a State "mole" tasked with monitoring Gachagua and opposition activities.

Wamuchomba and Gachagua fell out after she voted against his impeachment in October 2024, a move she believed should have brought them closer together. However, their hostility continued, with Wamuchomba claiming she had tried several times to contact Gachagua but was met with silence. She expressed her willingness to clear the air, stating, "If I wronged you for standing with you during your impeachment, I can come and tell you, 'Sorry,' for even shedding tears for your sake."

Wamuchomba reiterated her commitment to resolving their differences, saying she was ready to apologize if she had wronged Gachagua. She also urged him to rethink his approach to handling political disagreements in the Mt Kenya region. According to Wamuchomba, good leadership requires unity rather than confrontation, and she questioned the value of using harsh language against colleagues.

Wamuchomba called on Gachagua to bring regional leaders together and address disputes openly, rather than singling out politicians with differing views. She argued that this approach would help to foster unity and promote a more positive political environment in the Mt Kenya region. Wamuchomba's appeal follows months of tension between the two politicians.

The tension between Wamuchomba and Gachagua began when she accused him of pressuring Mt Kenya politicians to join the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP). In January, she alleged that Gachagua had enlisted key allies, including Nyandarua Senator John Methu and Kiambu Senator Karungo Wa Thang'wa, to push government-aligned lawmakers to leave the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

Wamuchomba has since left the UDA party and joined the opposition-aligned camp, marking another significant shift in her political trajectory. Throughout the fallout, she has urged Gachagua to build a broader national coalition instead of focusing mainly on Mt Kenya politics. Her appeal to Gachagua is seen as an effort to heal the rift and promote unity in the region.

The development highlights the ongoing political tensions in Kenya, particularly in the Mt Kenya region. Wamuchomba's offer of an apology and her call for unity and dialogue reflect her efforts to resolve the differences with Gachagua and promote a more positive and inclusive political environment. The response from Gachagua to Wamuchomba's appeal remains to be seen.

Key points

• Gathoni Wamuchomba offers personal apology to Rigathi Gachagua if she offended him during their political fallout.