Speaking during an interview with Citizen TV, Ichung’wah accused Gachagua of attempting to intimidate Members of Parliament and “blackmail” William Ruto at the height of internal tensions within government.
According to Ichung’wah, the confrontation occurred while Gachagua was still serving as deputy president.
He claimed he visited Gachagua’s Karen residence after concerns emerged over alleged threats directed at lawmakers from the Mount Kenya region.
Ichung’wah said he made it clear during the meeting that he would not be intimidated, drawing comparisons with his past interactions with former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
“I told him, Mr Deputy President, you know me… You know Uhuru Kenyatta as president could not intimidate me or blackmail me to support his cause,” he said.
The legislator alleged that Gachagua had been attempting to rally MPs through threats, warning that such an approach would not succeed with him.
“If you intimidate all these members of parliament from Mount Kenya… look at me straight in my eyes and know I will be the last person you will intimidate,” Ichung’wah stated.
He further claimed that after Gachagua addressed meetings in Nanyuki, he confronted him again, urging him to adopt dialogue and relationship-building rather than coercion in dealing with colleagues and the presidency.
Ichung’wah also made allegations regarding confidential government expenditure, claiming that Gachagua sought his backing to increase confidential spending from KSh 700 million to KSh 1 billion through provisions under Article 223 of the Constitution.
He said he rejected the proposal, arguing that it would have been an abuse of public resources and contrary to principles he upheld while chairing the Budget and Appropriations Committee.
“I told him I will not allow it in Parliament because it is wrong. Our numbers are not to abuse, to do what is not right,” he said.
Additionally, Ichung’wah alleged that Gachagua was under financial pressure at the time, including obligations linked to hotel-related expenses, though he did not provide further details.
The claims are likely to deepen political tensions within the Mount Kenya region, where divisions among leaders have increasingly come into focus. Gachagua has yet to publicly respond to the allegations.
The unfolding dispute highlights growing rifts within Kenya’s political leadership as the country edges closer to the next electoral cycle.
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