Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is a definite asset to whatever political side he aligns with, but there are signs and symptoms that he can also become a liability—eventually.
Gachagua is a political bulldozer, which enabled him defy the usual political trajectory and become Deputy President after serving only one term as MP. His political sharpness is no accident. The man graduated with a BSc in Political Science and Literature—a potent combination, especially if you actually attend classes and read books.
From the look of things, Rigathi enjoyed it. There are specific books any political science student must read. There are even more if you add literary studies to the mix. Gachagua was a student at the University of Nairobi between 1985 and 1988, and his classmates have stated how he was a political hothead who voraciously devoured several politically oriented literary texts. The end result is what we saw in the run-up to the 2022 election: a political general who commanded Central Kenya to the hilt.
Since his impeachment, he has again vowed to get back on the ground—this time from the opposing side. He wants to remind President Ruto who is ‘king.’ Rigathi knows his craft and nearly matches President Ruto when it comes to spinning narratives. He has the gift of speech, he knows where to strike, and he has the money.
Fred Matiangi, Kalonzo Musyoka, or whoever the opposition settles on will definitely benefit greatly. However, it is the same Gachagua that gave Ruto problems and openly dug his grave that we are talking about.
His obsession with Mt Kenya affairs is a red flag. He has been urged to speak another political language, to no avail. He has been asked to adopt a national outlook by taking his politics to regions such as Nyanza, but he seems adamant.
Remember, Gachagua has deeply regretted entering into a partnership with Ruto without a written agreement—and obviously, that is a mistake he would not dare repeat. What that means is that what Mt Kenya loses by not having a presidential candidate will have to be compensated through appointments and resource allocation. Gachagua seems like someone who will want to seek revenge for himself in that government by striving to have as much influence as possible.
People who had an experience with him in the two years he served as DP do not have much good to say about him. Majority Whip Sylvanus Osoro has spoken about how dismissive he was, even to leaders from his community. In one interview, Osoro revealed how the DP’s office became inaccessible to most people as Gachagua straddled the Kenyan political space like a colossus. Being a political scientist, Gachagua also knows whoever partners with him will have such doubts to contend with.
Being an honest man, as he claims, it will be up to him to be clear with his political partners about what kind of share he will wish for—if at all—should things work as planned. Have we judged too early? That is a question only he can answer, but as it stands, he has a lot of work to do.
By Mike Nyagwoka