Tharaka residents want Kenya Red Cross Central region manager Gitonga Mugambi to apologize over ‘derogatory’ remarks he made yesterday while issuing relief food to 36 primary schools in Tharaka North Sub County.
The official, who was accompanied by Tharaka Nithi Deputy Governor Francis Kagwima and other county officials, castigated Tharaka residents for what he termed as complaining at all times.
He cited the Ndengu Revolution that he said had helped a lot of farmers in the region harvest high yields and further faulted the residents for raising concerns over lack of market for the produce.
“You should at least thank God for the produce and not complaining at all times,” Mr Mugambi said.
Defends Njuki
Mr Mugambi defended Governor Muthomi Njuki arguing that he had done a lot for Tharaka people and that they should stop complaining and attacking him on media outlets.
“The Governor is my best friend. If you don’t love him you can vomit. No one abuses the hand that feeds him” he noted.
Beggars
Residents on social platforms expressed their disappointments with the official for calling them beggars noting that it was an insult to the entire community.
“Calling a whole community Arombi (meaning beggars in local dialect) is not only unconstitutional but morally unacceptable and biblically evil… We will have nothing but a public apology,” wrote one of the residents on a Whatsapp group.
“Those insulting us may be having a godfather but we are protected by God the Father,” another wrote.
Another resident wrote, “It is so sad that people can be treated with such prejudice. Tharaka people are very hardworking and Gachugini area has guys who built permanent market stores through Ndengu farming. We have no power to make rains enough to harvest enough for ourselves and nobody should be blamed for the current food insecurity in Tharaka,”
Protest
The area MP Gitonga Murugara promised to file a complaint to Kenya Red Cross over the remarks by the official who is reported to have interest in Maara parliamentary seat in 2022.
“I am prepared to take up the matter with Red Cross,” Mr Murugara wrote on Tharaka Leaders Forum, Whatsapp group.
