The debate about whether the Deputy President came from a lineage of Maumau fighters cropped up again during Azimio’s presser on Monday, June 5.
During the presser, Azimio Leader Raila Odinga cast aspersions on whether Gachagua’s family took part in fighting for Kenya’s independence.
Further, the former Prime Minister remarked that there was a possibility that Gachagua’s family was part of the collaborators during colonial rule.
“You have been bragging that you are a son of Mau Mau together with Kikuyu Member of Parliament Kimani Ichungw’ah.
“I want to challenge you today Gachagua to declare your relationship with Gachagua Wang’ombe who was assassinated in 1953,” Raila challenged the DP.
The opposition leader explained that Wang’ombe was assassinated by Mau Mau fighters for collaborating with the colonialists.
The Azimio leader further indicated that it was highly likely that Wang’ombe was related to the DP because apart from sharing a surname, they both hail from Mathira constituency.
In a second demand to Gachagua, Raila asked the DP to prove without a doubt that he was the son of Mau Mau fighter.
“If your father was a Mau Mau, tell us what his service number in the movement was,” he insisted.
In the same breath, Raila challenged Ichung’wah to present the service number of his parents if it was true they were involved in the struggle for independence.
Earlier in the presser, leaders drawn from Mount Kenya decried the Finance Bill claiming it was meant to hurt Mt Kenya’s businesses.
Azimio Principal Martha Karua noted that the proposed taxation targeted Mt Kenya businesses and vowed to oppose it.
She also challenged Gachagua to refrain from classifying Mt Kenya youth as drunkards arguing that it painted the region in a bad light.
Raila and Gachagua have repeatedly traded political jabs and the recent Mau Mau remarks by the Azimio leader were part of a series of such.
On Saturday, June 3, Gachagua accused the former prime minister of misleading his followers with unrealistic political ideals.
The DP in particular took issue with Raila’s assertion that Kenya could be split amongst political affiliations.
“If Raila is tired of staying in Kenya, let him just leave, and Kenya will move on. There is no problem with that. The truth is that he has tried five times. Let him try for the sixth time,” Gachagua stated.
