Gachagua: President Ruto agreed to give Western region 30% share of government posts

Gachagua: President Ruto agreed to give Western region 30% share of government posts

The former DP disclosed that the deal, signed before the 2022 elections, was witnessed by current Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and UDA Secretary General Cleophas Malala.

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has revealed details of a political agreement between President William Ruto and Western Kenya leaders, including National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.

Speaking on Tuesday, the former DP disclosed that the deal, signed before the 2022 elections, was witnessed by current Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and UDA Secretary General Cleophas Malala.

"Wetang'ula and Musalia (Mudavadi) signed an agreement with the president, and Kithure Kindiki was the witness. Simon Gikuru also signed it. In this agreement, the Western region was to receive all unfinished roads and projects completed, new roads, and 30 per cent of the government," Gachagua stated.

The former Mathira MP explained that the deal promised the Western region six Cabinet positions, the Prime Cabinet Secretary slot, and the Speaker of the National Assembly.

However, he noted that the region has only two Cabinet seats instead of the agreed six.

Revive sugar industry

The agreement also included commitments to revive the struggling sugar industry and construct an additional 1,000 kilometres of roads, alongside completing all stalled road projects in the region.

This is not the first time Gachagua has spoken about the Kenya Kwanza power-sharing deal.

In October last year, he referenced the same agreement while defending himself against accusations of tribalism in the National Assembly.

At the time, he stated that his 'shareholders' remarks had been misinterpreted, emphasising that Ruto had consented to a power-sharing arrangement before the election.

According to the agreement, ANC and FORD Kenya were promised 30 per cent of government positions in exchange for delivering 70 per cent of the Western Kenya vote to Ruto.

"ANC will be allocated the position of Prime Cabinet Secretary to be established within 14 days... FORD Kenya will be allocated the position of the Speaker of the National Assembly. In accordance with Article 21 of the power-sharing agreement, ANC and FORD Kenya would have a 30% share of national government positions," Gachagua quoted from the deal.

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