Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Friday claimed the existence of a verbal agreement with President William Ruto that the two would not allow Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga into the government.
Speaking during an interview with Citizen TV, Gachagua explicitly stated he regrets his decision to turn his back on former President Uhuru Kenyatta, who in the build up to the 2022 presidential election publicly backed Raila for president.
However according to Gachagua, at the time, the Mt Kenya community decided to back Ruto. The Deputy President claimed that Ruto prevailed upon him and other Central Kenya leaders it would be a bad idea working with the former Prime Minister.
The two would then go on to be elected and this was when, at least according to Gachagua, that the two allegedly agreed to freeze out Raila.
“President William Ruto persuaded us and he is a very persuasive leader that Raila is the one who has caused problems in the government. He persuaded that if we allow Raila Odinga to become president, this country will not move forward,” Gachagua claimed.
President William Ruto and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua at State House, Nairobi on April 30, 2024.
PCS
The Deputy President however expressed his frustration that Ruto changed his mind and decided to bring Raila into the government.
Gachagua was referring to President William Ruto’s decision to call a political truce with Raila following the charged Gen Z protests that were threatening to destabilise the government.
“He is the boss. In this situation, we are not in a co-presidency. I am just the president’s principal assistant. What he says carries the day and I don’t argue with him,” Gachagua stated.
“When I realised he was starting to have a relationship with Raila Odinga, I slowly gave way because the president is always right. The minute I realised they are meeting, I am also not a stupid person, I don’t have to be told in black and white, I relaxed and even stopped attacking Raila Odinga,”
The Deputy President nonetheless reiterated that he does not have a problem working with Raila, especially since two presidents including Ruto have seen it fit to bring him into the fold.
During the same interview, Gachagua also revealed that he had held talks with President Ruto over threats by some MPs to impeach him. According to the Deputy President, Ruto had assured him he had nothing to do with the plot.
Gachagua also sent a cryptic message to the president, warning him to put a leash on his allies such as Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wah who have been insulting him publicly in the Head of State’s presence.
“I have talked to the President several times and asked him to call his house to order. How can leaders insult me in his presence?” Gachagua questioned.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua addressing a rally in Nyeri
DPPS
