TND Leader Calls For Political Truce Amid Riggy-G And WaMumbi Fallout
Dr Thuo Mathenge addressing journalists at Bantu Africa Resort in Nyeri yesterday.
By MTK Correspondents
The New Democrats (TND) party leader Dr Thuo Mathenge has called for a political truce between former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Mathira MP Eric Wamumbi, both natives of Mathira constituency, amid rising tensions among Nyeri residents that was witnessed in parts of Nyeri County on Tuesday.
Dr Mathenge said there was absolutely no reason for the residents to turn against each other due to some leaders political differences.
He warned that if they trend continues, the end result would have unimaginable consequences.
“We have heard inflammatory statements that, if unchecked, could plunge the country into a crisis similar to what we saw in 2007/2008,” said Dr Mathenge, who also chairs the board of the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO).
He was reacting to the violence that was witnessed in Karatina town that saw destruction of property and injuries of some residents.
“The people who fought in Karatina are brothers and sisters who have lived together peacefully for generations. This is a dangerous path we are on.”
He appealed for restraint, urging leaders to resolve their differences privately and avoid dragging the public into political feuds.
“If you have personal issues, lock yourselves in a room and settle them. Don’t drag the people of Nyeri into political quarrels,” he said, adding, “We must choose peace over violence.”
Dr Mathenge who is also the patron of the Kikuyu Community called on Kenyans to co-exist peacefully saying the gains made uniting Kenyans should not be allowed to.go down the drain because a few selfish leaders.
“Leaders should stop misusing people for their selfish interests. They should let the people carry on with their daily activities of uplifting their standards of living,” he said.
Tensions between Gachagua and Wamumbi reached a boiling point on Tuesday when supporters from both camps clashed in Karatina town. One side was protesting alleged harassment of the former DP while the other wanted to counter the demonstrators.
Gachagua, now the party leader of the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), has come under growing political pressure in recent weeks with goons being sent to disrupt his meetings.
Apart from Karatina, protests were also reported in Mukurwe-ini and Nyeri town constituencies.
Adding to the outcry, DCP Nyeri County Coordinator Wanyaga Gathaka claimed the government had planned to arrest Gachagua and that is what triggered the protests.
“Residents turned out in large numbers because they believed Gachagua was being unfairly targeted by the Kenya Kwanza regime,” said Gathaka.
The former Nyeri Municipality Mayor said the government had resorted to harassing opposition leaders since the new constitution had no room for detention without trial.
He accused the Mathira MP of intruding to a peaceful protest saying, “Wamumbi arrived with his supporters and disrupted what was initially a peaceful protest.”
On Dr Mathenge’s call for truce, Gathaka said, “Thuo Mathenge should focus on growing his political party. Yes, he serves in the current administration, but he should direct his energy toward party-building instead of lecturing Gachagua,” he said.
The situation in Nyeri has raised broader concerns about political stability within the Kenya Kwanza alliance, with observers warning that unchecked intra-party rivalry could have long-term implications for the region’s unity and national cohesion.
As tensions simmer, calls for dialogue and restraint continue to mount. Whether the two leaders heed the appeals for peace remains to be seen.
Meanwhile, Mumias East MP Peter Salasya, on a tour of the Mt Kenya region, condemned the police response and urged security agencies to remain neutral.
“The Office of the Inspector General of Police, led by Douglas Kanja, is constitutionally mandated to protect citizens—not terrorize them,” Salasya said during a stop in Nyeri town.
“If the DCI must arrest a political leader, let due process be followed. Issue summons, not dramatic ambushes. We are leaders, not criminals.”
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