The Deputy President, Rigathi Gachagua, breaches the norm regarding the deafening silence and waning political bromance in the executive occasioned by those he terms as President Ruto’s insiders, combing out his roots for self-gain and with the ill-intention to ouster him.
Once an inseparable political force, the relationship between the President and his Deputy seems to have widened, unleashing a political scar that has always been a trigger for the top-seat division since Kenya gained independence in 1963.
Rigathi Gachagua, who seems to have decided his own course in politics, has urged the president to allow him to work for Kenyans for the remaining three years. Recently, a section of Mount Kenya region lawmakers simmered the situation when they openly endorsed the CS for Interior, Kithure Kindiki, as their kingpin.
The formation of the broad-based government, which brought members from the opposition party, ODM, could be the boiling point, leading to the deepening leadership wrangles within the Executive and the Legislative arms of government.
The broad-based government was formed after the cabinet was dissolved following weeks of demonstrations. While responding to Sam Gituku of CitizenTV on an interview session yesterday, Rigathi revealed that the president reached out to him regarding a new face of government that would anchor the voice of every Kenyan in the country.
However, on the appointment of the new cabinet ministers, Ruto approached Raila’s orbit, a man that Rigathi vowed never to admit or come closer to the government. Rigathi said in his interview that Ruto informed him that Raila is a good person; therefore, he couldn’t object to his decisions to incorporate the opposition team in the cabinet.
Branded as a “man of truth” by a section of citizens, Rigathi has also attracted a circle of MPs who have now differed with the President over the affairs of his DP. In the last few weeks, he has been missing from the president’s events, attracting the attention of Kenyans.
Rigathi amitted that his absence was occasioned by the limited access to the diary after he was removed from the WhatsApp group by the admin he identified as Maiyo. Due to that, he does not get the primary information on planned events unless notified or invited. He has therefore debunked the claims that he’s been intentionally absconding duties.
Lawmakers close to President Ruto accused the DP of swirling tribal politics, which is opposite to the visions of a broad-based government to unite Kenyans. This surfaced following rallies and meetings the DP has been holding to champion for the affairs of the Mt. Kenya community.
However, Rigathi refuted claims by those purporting to his political stance. He further said that he’s been all over the country, and that shouldn’t equate to tribalism when raising issues touching on Mount Kenya. He went ahead to affirm his continued intention to voice Mt. Kenya grievances as their representative in the government.
The DP has also lamemented the political persecution he’s experiencing as the second in command. Gachagua asserted that he has experienced the worst in one year than what Ruto went through in four years as the Uhuru’s deputy.
Amid the attrition, which he blamed on the government officials, including a section of Ruto’s advisors, bloggers, cabinet secretaries, and MPs, he has vowed to continue working as the deputy unfazed by the impeachment. threats.