Tana River Senator, Danson Mungatana, criticized Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over his ‘One Man One Vote One Shilling’ statement, terming it unfortunate.

Mungatana described Gachagua’s assertion as a continuation of economic segregation in the Arid and Semi-Arid areas of the country, expressing his disappointment and likening it to policies from the 1960s that marginalized many regions.

While addressing journalists at his office, Mungatana stated, ”As much as he talks about one man one vote one shilling, we from the Arid and Semi-Arid areas advocate for One Man, One Vote, One Kilometer.”

He highlighted the historical context of this policy, referencing the sessional paper of 1965 authored by then Minister for Economic Development, Tom Mboya, which advocated for investment in high-potential areas while neglecting less productive regions. Mungatana emphasized the enduring impact of this policy.

He emphasized the interdependence of all regions in Kenya, citing the contribution of the Tana River to national electricity generation and calling for unity.

Mungatana’s remarks were prompted by Gachagua’s proposal to allocate national resources based on population, a proposition that has been raised previously.

Regarding the Kenya Kwanza government, Mungatana absolved it of responsibility for such statements, claiming that parliamentary and cabinet discussions under the government’s majority have not addressed the issue.

”There has not been a single parliamentary or cabinet meeting chaired by President William Ruto discussing such statements,’ he clarified.