Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua explained why he did not attend a church service at AIPCA Central Western Archdiocese in Nyeri County where he was expected to accompany President William Ruto.
The DP, while attending centenary celebrations of Our Lady of Sorrows Baricho Catholic Parish in Kirinyaga County, explained that he could not afford to miss the cake served in celebrations to mark the church’s 100 years.
He had intended to attend the centenary event and leave midway to join the Head of State at AIPCA Central Western Archdiocese in Nyeri County but the event got so colourful that he decided to stay till the end.
“I was hurrying to attend another church in Nyeri then I saw there was a cake. I wondered whether an event without eating a cake is complete. So I decided to wait for the cake,” Gachagua revealed.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua with priests and other leaders cutting a cake during centenary celebrations at Baricho Catholic Parish in Kirinyaga County on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Rigathi Gachagua
As such, he opted to join the congregants in the centenary celebrations held at Baricho Primary School grounds after the Sunday Holy Mass.
In the service at AIPCA Central Western Archdiocese in Nyeri, an empty chair was left for the deputy president raising eyebrows.
The AIPCA service was held in his backyard in Nyeri County and his failure to attend raised speculation of the widening rift between the president and his deputy.
This came barely a week after 48 MPs from Mt Kenya endorsed Cabinet Secretary for Interior and Administration of National Government, Kithure Kindiki as their Kingpin.
In what they termed the endorsement as the Nyahururu declaration, the regional leaders noted that Kithure Kindiki will serve as a link with the executive.
The deputy president took the opportunity to urge the leaders to work for the people. “As far as I know elections ended and I will focus on working for the people of Kenya,” he noted.
“Every leader should be given an opportunity to work including the president.”
President William Ruto (right) and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua attend the homecoming ceremony of Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu on March 24, 2023.
Florence Bore
