National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah has ignited a political storm after accusing former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua of being behind the rising cases of abductions in the country.

Ichung’wah made the claims on Friday January 3, 2025 during the burial of Moses Wetang’ula’s mother in Kabuchai, Bungoma County.

Addressing mourners at the ceremony, Ichung’wah alleged that Gachagua orchestrated the abductions, adding a new layer of tension to the already strained political relationship between the two leaders.

“Gachagua was the orchestrator of abductions so that he could blame President Ruto,” Ichung’wah said.

His remarks come in the wake of Gachagua’s public criticism of President William Ruto, where he appeared to link the Head of State to the same issue.

Ichung’wah’s accusations did not stop at Gachagua. He also took aim at Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya, who was present at the burial, accusing him of failing to act during his tenure as a Regional Commissioner.

“Shame on you Governor Natembeya. You cannot complain about abductions when you were the key abductor of Kenyans under the last regime,” he added.

According to Ichung’wah, Natembeya had the authority and resources to investigate and expose those behind the abductions but chose not to.

Ichung’wah continued by accusing the governor of using divisive politics to divide residents of the Western region communities along ethnic lines.

“The divisive politics that you are promoting will not be successful. Your leader in divisive and ethnic politics, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, is the one behind the abductions,” Ichung’wah noted.

Ichung’wah warned Natembeya against selling fear to the people of the western region.

The vocal legislator accused Natembeya of being behind the killings where bodies were discovered in the River Yala and the Mau evictions.

“When you killed people and dumped them at River Yala, you were the Regional Commissioner in charge of abductions and murdering Kenyans. Shame on you,” Ichung’wah condemned Natembeya.

At the burial, Natembeya was met with hostility, and the struggle for dominance between him and Wetangula was visible as mourners taunted him and tried to interrupt him while he spoke.

The crowd finally gave him the opportunity to speak after multiple interruptions.

“We want abductions to end. The youth are using foul language on social media.

That needs to change. If it cannot change, people should not be killed or abducted because of it,” Natembeya noted.