Africa-Press – Kenya. Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot has lifted the lid on behind-the-scenes wrangles in the Kenya Kwanza Alliance ahead of the 2022 General Election.
Cheruiyot revealed that National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah strongly opposed the nomination of Rigathi Gachagua as President William Ruto’s running mate, a decision he now says has been vindicated by events.
Speaking during the burial of Ichung’wah’s father, Mzee Isaac Ngugi, Monday, Cheruiyot recalled how the running mate decision split opinion at the top level of the coalition in the tense months before the election.
“I remember very well, a few months before the election, when a certain decision was made (to nominate Rigathi Gachagua as Ruto’s running mate). Whether it was right or wrong, time has proved who was right,” Cheruiyot said.
He said Ichung’wah refused to back the decision and even skipped the official unveiling at the DP’s Karen residence.
“When I called him, I told him, ‘Please, you are a team member, once a decision has been made you must live by it,” he narrated.
“But Kimani told me, ‘Aaron, you know me very well. For me, black is black and white is white, that was a wrong decision,’” he added.
The Kericho senator admitted he initially thought Ichung’wah was mistaken, but noted that Gachagua’s subsequent fallout with President Ruto, which culminated in his impeachment in October 2024, had proved otherwise.
“Over time the country has come to realise Kimani was right. That was absolutely a wrong decision,” Cheruiyot added.
Following his ouster, Kithure Kindiki who was then Interior Cabinet Secretary succeeded him.
President Ruto who was among the leaders who attended the ceremony praised Ichung’wah as a true friend.
“This man Kimani…he has taken many bullets on my behalf, he has carried huge burdens on my behalf, burdens that even my own brothers could not, but this man has…on this day when we are putting to rest your father, I want to tell you thank you very much for not just being a friend, for being a brother to me…and the same way you have stood with me, my brother, I want to say this in front of your family I will stand with you,” he said.
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