Members of Parliament allied to Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua have issued a stern warning against Webuye West MP Dan Wanyama, threatening to initiate impeachment proceedings over alleged divisive statements.
The charge was led by Nyeri Town MP Duncan Maina and Nyeri Women Representative Rahab Mukami, who condemned Wanyama for comments he made on Sunday, January 19, during a church service in Mt. Elgon, where he appeared alongside President William Ruto.
During the event, Wanyama criticized the Mt. Kenya electorate, accusing them of seeking to dominate national politics.
His remarks have since fueled tension between Gachagua’s loyalists and allies of President Ruto, escalating an already fragile political situation.
While addressing the congregation, Wanyama also took aim at former President Uhuru Kenyatta, accusing him of interfering in national matters despite being retired.
He criticized Uhuru for urging the youth to “fight for their rights,” suggesting the former president should focus on enjoying his retirement and allow the current leadership to govern without interference.
“We will not allow one tribe to believe it has an automatic right to the State House,” Wanyama stated. “When a leader from their community assumes power, we give them room to serve their term in peace, even if they fail to deliver.
But when someone from a different region takes over, they resort to incitement and blackmail, even if things are running smoothly.”
Wanyama’s statements have drawn sharp criticism from MPs allied to Gachagua. Mukami accused Wanyama and other Western Kenya leaders of stirring ethnic tensions against the Kikuyu community.
“Some MPs, especially from the Western region, seem to have a calculated agenda of inciting Kenyans against the Kikuyu community,” she remarked.
In response to the remarks, Gachagua-aligned MPs have urged the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) to investigate and take action against Wanyama for allegedly promoting ethnic division.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, January 22, MP Duncan Maina revealed that he has formally petitioned the National Assembly Committee on National Cohesion and Equal Opportunities to summon Wanyama over his controversial remarks.
“We intend to recommend that the MP be held accountable for grossly violating the Constitution,” Maina stated. “Based on his utterances, we believe he has forfeited the right to represent his constituency and should lose his parliamentary seat.”
The Constitution, under Article 33(2), provides limits to freedom of expression, excluding protection for hate speech, incitement to violence, or propaganda promoting ethnic hostility.
Specifically, the law prohibits expressions that propagate war, incite violence, or encourage ethnic hatred.
This controversy comes on the heels of a similar petition filed by MP Mwengi Mutuse, accusing Deputy President Gachagua of advancing the interests of the Mt. Kenya region at the expense of national unity.
Mukami, addressing the media, called for restraint and urged leaders to avoid divisive rhetoric. “We campaigned tirelessly for President Ruto, and while some regions did not vote for him, they should refrain from interfering in our internal disagreements with the government,” she said.
The brewing tension underscores the deepening political rifts within the ruling coalition, with accusations of tribalism and division threatening to derail cohesion efforts.
As the matter continues to unfold, all eyes are now on the NCIC and parliamentary committees to determine whether Wanyama’s actions will lead to formal disciplinary measures.
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