Government Spokesman Isaac Mwaura has criticised political leaders who wish President William Ruto’s agenda and the nation’s progress fail.

He also condemned those who speak negatively about Kenya while abroad and those who offer lukewarm support to the national football team, Harambee Stars, during the ongoing 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) tournament.

“Wishing our president and country to fail, speaking ill of our nation abroad, and backing Harambee Stars’ success halfheartedly, is unpatriotic,” Mwaura said in a statement posted on X.

“We are one country, one nation, one people. Let’s rise above petty parochial and political differences.”

Mwaura’s remarks came shortly after Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi condemned former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua for making what he termed as divisive and unpatriotic statements during his visit to the United States.

Mudavadi accused Gachagua of portraying Kenya in a negative light, warning that such rhetoric risks undermining national unity.

“Look at a scenario where Rigathi Gachagua, who has gotten to the level of Deputy President, goes abroad and champions tribalism until the people in the diaspora tell him to shun away from it,” said Mudavadi. “As Kenyans, our goal is to preach peace across our region.”

Mudavadi described Gachagua as a bitter and frustrated leader who, instead of fostering unity, is exporting divisive rhetoric and tribal politics to the diaspora community.

He also strongly rejected the former Deputy President’s claims that the Kenyan government is collaborating with the terrorist group Al-Shabaab, labeling these allegations as “falsehoods, baseless, and dangerous.”

“These irresponsible statements are deeply insulting to the country’s security agencies and leadership,” Mudavadi said, reminding the public that Gachagua, as a former Deputy President, was part of the National Security Council and therefore well-informed about Kenya’s anti-terror operations.

Mudavadi also criticised Gachagua for calling on the U.S. government to investigate the Kenyan administration, saying such actions bordered on betrayal.

“If indeed Rigathi is a patriot, why is he saying he wants the government of the USA to investigate the government of Kenya? Is it that Rigathi is a police officer in the USA?” Mudavadi quipped.