Rigathi Gachagua: How Political negligence costed him fortune, carrier and health.

Kenya’s embattled former Deputy President, Rigathi Gachagua, refers to himself as the “truthful man,” attributing his significant rise to his willingness to speak truth to power. However, as he faces impeachment proceedings, he contends that these challenges stem from his outspoken nature. Prior to his election as MP in 2017, little was known about the individual who would ascend to become Kenya’s second-in-command in just five years. Few people outside Gachagua’s Central Kenya constituency were familiar with him or his political style. Gachagua first gained prominence in the lead-up to the 2022 elections by strongly opposing President Uhuru Kenyatta’s preferred successor.

Kenyatta was vigorously campaigning for former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, while Gachagua aligned himself with William Ruto, Kenyatta’s then-deputy, who sought the presidency that his superior was reluctant to pass on. Rigathi Gachagua’s time as Deputy President has been largely viewed as unsuccessful, with his most notable accomplishment being the hosting of a *mchele na nyama* event at Sagana State Lodge—the first of its kind since the Moi era. Although this event may have held symbolic significance, it offered little substantive benefit to the people of Mt. Kenya, who held high expectations for Gachagua’s leadership. Instead of focusing on development, Gachagua became preoccupied with combating the former regime, fixating on harming former President Uhuru Kenyatta and his family.

This vendetta overshadowed the advocacy for necessary reforms in Mt. Kenya’s agriculture-dependent economy leaves farmers in sectors such as rice, milk, tea, and coffee without guaranteed minimum returns (GMR) to safeguard against market volatility. Gachagua’s inability to advocate for these essential policies has resulted in significant challenges for the region’s agriculture sector.

The neglect is starkly apparent, as Mt. Kenyan mothers are now compelled to sell valuable macadamia nuts at funerals to sustain their families—an unfortunate reflection of the inadequate economic support in the region. rather than utilizing his office to promote development for Mt. During Gachagua’s tenure in Kenya, political infighting has dominated, resulting in a legacy marked by missed opportunities and unfulfilled promises.