With days to the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah has announced plans to sue former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over claims that he was involved in attempts to influence the outcome of the vote.
Ichung'wah dismissed the allegations as false, malicious and defamatory, saying they were aimed at damaging his integrity and casting doubt on the credibility of the electoral process. He maintained that the accusations had crossed the line from politics into matters that should now be determined by the courts.
The dispute stems from remarks made by Gachagua during a briefing on Friday, where he alleged that Ichung'wah met a Deputy County Commissioner to influence the July 16 parliamentary by-election in Ol Kalou and attempted to bribe officials of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
Responding in a statement, Ichung'wah said Gachagua had turned to what he described as propaganda after realising that his preferred candidate was facing defeat in the contest.
"I take great exception to the reckless, false and malicious allegations levelled against me today by Mr Gachagua regarding the forthcoming Ol Kalou by-election," Ichung'wah said.
He also accused the former deputy president of abandoning issue-based politics in favour of sensational claims driven by panic over the expected outcome of the election.
"It is now abundantly clear that Mr Gachagua is a man gripped by panic. After weeks of chest-thumping and empty bravado, he has come face to face with the reality that his preferred candidate is headed for defeat," he said.
Ichung'wah further denied claims that he had held meetings with Deputy County Commissioners to interfere with the by-election, saying the allegations had no factual basis.
"His claims that I have held meetings with Deputy County Commissioners to influence the election are entirely false, baseless and defamatory. They exist nowhere except in the imagination of a man who has built his politics on conspiracy theories, propaganda, hate and ethnic division," he said.
He also rejected allegations that he attempted to bribe IEBC officials, saying the claims were meant to tarnish both his name and the integrity of the electoral process.
Ichung'wah said he would now seek legal redress, adding that Gachagua would have to defend the allegations before a court.
"Because this empty political rhetoric now touches on my integrity, to preserve the sanctity of our electoral processes and protect our democracy, I will take legal action against Mr Gachagua. He will have the opportunity to substantiate every allegation he has made before a court of law," Ichung'wah said.
He went on to accuse Gachagua of trying to remain politically relevant by promoting division and fear instead of offering leadership.
"The people of Ol Kalou, the Mt Kenya region and Kenyans across the country can now clearly see Mr Gachagua for who he truly is. He is not championing democracy; he is desperately clinging to relevance by peddling division, tribalism and fear," he said.
Ichung'wah expressed confidence that voters in Ol Kalou would freely choose their next MP, insisting that no amount of what he termed propaganda or divisive politics would change the outcome of the July 16 by-election.