Ichung’wah Accuses Gachagua Of Assaulting Dennis Itumbi At A State Lodge

On Tuesday, September 17, National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah detailed an alleged incident involving Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Digital Strategist Dennis Itumbi during the 2022 election campaigns.

In an interview with Spice FM, Ichung’wah claimed that the incident took place at an unnamed State Lodge. He described how the Deputy President reportedly confronted Itumbi and nearly assaulted him for not tweeting as expected.

“I find it troubling when a high-ranking official, during a meeting at a State Lodge, grabs a junior staff member like Dennis Itumbi by the collar and threatens physical violence because the person isn’t tweeting what he desires,” Ichung’wah said.

At the time, Itumbi was heavily involved in the Kenya Kwanza campaigns, playing a significant role in supporting President William Ruto’s ascent to the presidency.

Ichung’wah criticized Gachagua’s alleged vindictive behavior, citing this incident as an example of the Deputy President’s tendency to react aggressively when people do not meet his expectations or associate with those he disapproves of.

Ichung’wah also recounted an incident in which Gachagua reportedly belittled MP Njuguna Kawanjiku by publicly disclosing details about his dowry and wedding expenses, as well as the duration of the ceremony.

“You’ve heard how the Kiambaa MP described his experience,” Ichung’wah noted. “I can assure you that MPs, especially those from the Mt. Kenya region, have endured similarly distressing situations. Many of them are understandably fearful due to these tactics of intimidation and desperation.”

Ichung’wah also criticized Deputy President Gachagua for failing to properly fulfill his role, which includes communicating government agendas and policies to the public. He argued that Gachagua prefers to complain in vernacular media rather than addressing these issues on national platforms.

“We have a situation where the Deputy President has never appeared on a national TV station to discuss government policy. He has not defended or articulated what the government is doing or informed Kenyans. Instead, the only time he’s been on TV or radio is on vernacular stations, where he merely complains and whines,” Ichung’wah said.

He explained that this lack of effective communication was one of the reasons he and 48 other MPs from the Mt. Kenya region supported Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki as their representative to the executive.