Inside Rigathi Gachagua's love-hate relationship with Uhuru

From: Former President Uhuru Kenyatta, President William Ruto and former Deputy Rigathi Gachagua at Kasarani stadium, Nairobi, on September 13, 2022. [File, Standard]

As efforts emerge seeking to unite former President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua one would think that they have always worked at cross purposes, but that is not the case.

Gachagua served as Uhuru’s personal assistant for 18 years, a position that gave the former second-in-command knowledge of who Uhuru was as he worked for him more as his errands hand, a confidant and a political partner.

Their dalliance faded in 2018, when Uhuru shook hands with the late Raila Odinga, causing Gachagua to revolt against his former boss and chose to support his then deputy William Ruto.

When Gachagua’s impeachment came knocking in October 2024, one of his major moments which now qualifies for his Damascus moment was to declare himself as Uhuru’s defender against President Ruto’s onslaught. Before the impeachment, Gachagua had accused Uhuru of sponsoring Azimio protests.

During the 2022 General Election, Gachagua was among other diehard supporters of Ruto.

At the time he faced corruption charges, was arrested and hauled before court and accused of corruptly obtaining Sh7.7 billion. The charges were only dropped after Kenya Kwanza won the 2022 elections.

During the hot campaign period, Gachagua was hailed as Ruto’s foremost defender as he was able to craftly charge the electorate against Uhuru and his family.

Those who knew Gachagua said he was a go-getter, an abrasive man who  never backed down from a fight.

A leader with a sharp tongue that Ruto desperately found valuable to annihilate his boss Uhuru who had elected to front Azimio candidate Raila Odinga as his preferred Presidential candidate.

Gachagua did not disappoint his boss, he lit many fires and battles with whoever crossed Ruto’s path.

From Uhuru and Raila, Mt Kenya MPs who were Uhuru’s allies to candidates who vied various political seats in Mt Kenya region that were sponsored by the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) sister parties.

Gachagua wasted no time to accuse Uhuru of using State power to enrich his family at the expense of poor Kenyans even as he accused him of orchestrating an all-out war against Kenyans from poor families.

It was during such times that Gachagua undressed Uhuru portraying him as a man not able to manage his thirst for the bottle and a leader who was not in charge of the country’s affairs.

During Ruto’s swearing-in ceremony, Gachagua continued with his onslaught against Uhuru claiming that the country had been milked dry through State capture.

But after his Damascus moment in July 2024, while he was being impeached, Gachagua issued an apology to Uhuru and his mother Mama Ngina Kenyatta as he expressed his remorse.

He said at times he could not sleep at night when he recalls some the harsh words he made against the former First Family.

From addressing Uhuru as corrupt, existential threat to democracy, Gachagua today describes him  as “a friend, former boss, and elder brother.’’

“I instructed leaders from this region (central} that I don’t want to hear anyone attacking him verbally,” Gachagua asserted.