Gachagua Is Not Rogue, He Is Sincere And Forthright

By: Joseph Mutua Ndonga

Worth Noting:

• In his latest remarks, the DP was quoted as saying that the Kenya Kwanza government is a Company. So, President William Ruto and I priority will ensure majority shareholders get their lion share.
• For President William Ruto and his Deputy, a huge chunk of votes that catapulted them to power came from Mount Kenya, Rift Valley and Western regional blocs.
• The lion shares of seats have gone to these regions. To me, this is the point that Gachagua was sending across.
• Let me give an example. As the preparations for the burial of former Education CS George Magoha continued, he visited the CS home in Nairobi to deliver his own message of condolences and that of Kenya government to his widow, son and relatives.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua had in recent past made remarks that have continued to elicit varied reactions.

To his critics, he cast a picture of being rogue. But to his admirers, he is a good man who has been walking the talk.

This is in terms upholding his three virtues of honesty, sincerity and forthrightness.

He is a leader, who is gifted with the talent of verbal communication.

To them, this was the main reason that made Dr William Ruto to pick him as his running mate. The duo went ahead and won the presidential elections.

When you do the right thing, the DP will immediately praise and congratulate you.

When you do a wrong thing, he will use the same script to reprimand you.

In his latest remarks, the DP was quoted as saying that the Kenya Kwanza government is a Company. So, President William Ruto and I priority will ensure majority shareholders get their lion share.

Here he was referring to ethnic groups and regions that supported and gave them majority of votes.

Let us bear this in mind. Kenya’s ‘democracy’ is rooted in tribal and regional politics.

This explains why the previous governments used the same criteria to share the seats and national cake.

For President William Ruto and his Deputy, a huge chunk of votes that catapulted them to power came from Mount Kenya, Rift Valley and Western regional blocs.

The lion shares of seats have gone to these regions. To me, this is the point that Gachagua was sending across.

That is if he said that Kenya Kwanza is Company.

Yes, is true Gachagua has a sharp tongue but this is not a good reason to call him rogue. That is how he was born.

Let us look the other face of Gachagua. He is generous and kind-hearted.

Let me give an example. As the preparations for the burial of former Education CS George Magoha continued, he visited the CS home in Nairobi to deliver his own message of condolences and that of Kenya government to his widow, son and relatives.

As part of the state contribution, he announced that government will avail a military helicopter to ferry the body to Siaya and buy food for mourners.

I don’t understand why some people felt offended particularly those hailing from Luo Nyanza.

He did not say something new. The previous government always contributed handsomely in preparation burials of top state officials who died while in office and after retiring.

In some instances, the state will take charge of entire burial preparations.

We saw this happening during the burials of former Presidents Daniel Arap Moi and Mwai Kibaki. In both, the mourners were given a soda and loaf of bread during their respective burial.

I remember in the lead up to 2022 elections, Gachagua made some remarks that were also considered to be controversial in some quarters.

While drumming support for Kenya Kwanza bottom up economic model, he stated.

If Dr William Ruto and I win the elections, we shall reorganize the giant Safaricom in a way that ‘hustlers’ will buy shares and become shareholders.

For me, this was a campaign strategy and it worked very well.

He had also remarked. The State House will be open to all. When the Hustlers come they will take sumptuous meal of rice and beef.

This is what used to happen when President Moi was in power.

Here the point was clear. President William Ruto and his wife will not be mean. When you go there they will welcome you and ensure you have taken something.

Would you fault DP for this? Let us stop criticizing for sake of it.

Joseph Mutua Ndonga is a writer and political analyst based in Nairobi