Dramatic rise, spectacular fall of Gachagua in volatile politics

His rise to power was as rapid as his potential exit from the country’s top leadership patch.

But as the ousted Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua opens a new battlefront at the courts in an attempt to save his political career, questions still abound about how what had appeared as a blistering relationship with his boss took a nose-dive for the worst for the political novice.

A former Provincial Administration official, Gachagua served as a personal assistant to retired President Uhuru Kenyatta when he was appointed as a Minister for Local Government under former President Moi’s administration.

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He came into the national limelight when he was accused by a section of MCAs in Nyeri County of managing the affairs of the Nyeri County government following the hospitalisation of his late brother Nderitu Gachagua, who was the governor.

Gachagua was later elected as Mathira MP where he served for a single term before President William Ruto picked him as his running mate in the build-up to the 2022 General Elections.

His selection as running mate was, however, not without controversy as a group of Mt Kenya MPs had preferred Professor Kithure Kindiki.

But just as the fish is killed by its mouth which swallows the bait, Gachagua’s acerbic tongue has driven him to his political waterloo.

In a strange twist of fate, Gachagua’s toxic tongue which defined his meteoric rise to power as he poured scorn and vitriol on former President Uhuru Kenyatta has led to his fall as it rattled Kenyans with his Mt Kenya shareholding mantra.

Gachagua’s fall from grace has been rapid and sudden, just as his steady and swift climb to the lofty position of Deputy President.

The just-about-to-be former DP’s sojourn to the high office and his sudden fall mirrors that of former Vice-President Josephat Karanja who was hounded out of office barely 14 months after his appointment.

Political commentators argued that Gachagua failed to analyse the political situation soon after ascending to office and was obsessed with the belief that he was a co-president.

Fell prey

The political observers say the changing political landscape following the alliance between President Ruto and Raila Odinga had adversely impacted DP’s political career.

The analysts add that Gachagua had also failed to understand that the majority of elected leaders in the Mt Kenya region owed their loyalty to the President hence falling prey to their machinations as they strategised to position themselves ahead of the 2027 elections.

Gachagua did not disappoint. Upon his nomination as Ruto’s running mate, he hit the ground running where he demonstrated his organizational and mobilization prowess.

The DP embarked on a well-oiled campaign of hate against Uhuru and his Jubilee party adherents who he accused of being responsible for the economic woes facing Mt Kenya people.

Gachagua also made several visits to Nyamakima and Gikomba areas in Nairobi and other areas with heavy occupations of informal sector traders from Mt Kenya region where he preached his gospel.

He also attended several vernacular radio and TV stations where he continued with his campaign of bashing the Uhuru administration which he blamed for mismanaging the coffee, tea, and dairy subsectors.

The analysts say the DP, in his abrasive approach to issues upon assuming office, opened many political battles that alienated him from other political players.

Gachagua, the observers argued, embarked on a campaign to attack and demonize Uhuru and other leaders in the Mt Kenya region who were opposed to the UDA’s presidential candidate.

Parallel axis

The leader also opened another battle with the business community from the region whom he accused of operating in a cartel-like manner.

The analysts argue that Gachagua lacked the political tack to outmaneuvre his opponents who managed to create political networks across the country’s political sphere.

“After falling out of favour with President Ruto, the DP became a victim of a wider web of political machinations and intrigues following the formation of a broad-based government that saw the inclusion of opposition leader Raila Odinga’s allies in the government,” said former Molo MP Njenga Mungai.

Mungai, who says he has known Gachagua for a long time added:

“Gachagua’s rise and fall has nothing to do with national issues but everything to do with machinations and power games within his UDA political party. In my view, Mr Gachagua has fallen prey to power dynamics within his party. He failed to study the political environment and understand the power politics around his boss hence shooting himself in the foot.” 

Similar sentiments were expressed by former Baringo East MP Joseph Lotodo who argued that Gachagua’s downfall was as a result of his attempt to establish a parallel axis of power outside that of President Ruto.

Lotodo says the practice of politics was driven by intense undercurrents and manipulations.

“If one fails to understand those dynamics, he finds himself in collision with his boss,” Lotodo said.

The former assistant minister added that Gachagua’s persistent attacks on Ruto’s administration had forced the President to seek new political allies to steer the country and deliver on his agenda.

“The DP focused on his Mt Kenya agenda at a time when the President was casting his net wider across the country to create hegemony and cohesion. This alienated him from the President and his allies,” Lotodo opined.

Lotodo added that the DP dented his image as a national leader “when he became obsessed with the issues of Mt Kenya region at the expense of the welfare of the general Kenyan populace.”

“In politics, one needs to constantly review the situation to remain relevant and fashionable. You cannot ascend on the tribal podium and expect to receive the support of Kenyans across the country,” Lotondo said.

He argues that the country’s political landscape is rapidly changing due to a multiplicity of factors, “including the changing demographic patterns, the effects of social media, and the presence of well-educated young people across the country. So a leader should be careful with his words.”

Political analyst Andrew Nyabuto says Gachagua rapidly rose to the position of influence in UDA in the run-up to the 2022 general election due to his capacity to galvanize the anti-Uhuru Kenyatta sentiments in the Mt Kenya region.

The analyst says by fighting Kenyatta and his allies in the Mt Kenya region, the DP isolated himself making him vulnerable to cannibalisation by forces outside the region.

“The DP, who is a bully, also cut himself from elected leaders from Mt Kenya region whom he demanded that they obey him and submit themselves to him,” Nyabuto argues.

He adds that President Ruto “skillfully used a cabal of elected leaders from Mt Kenya region to contain the DP’s political ambitions and also cut him to size. It is leaders in Mt Kenya region who have been used to bring him down.”

Nyabuto says Gachagua, who had deep pockets compared to his allies in the UDA party in Mt Kenya, managed to mobilize the grassroots people in their opposition to Uhuru Kenyatta.

“But upon assuming office, he assumed that he was a co-president putting him into a collision path with his boss, President William Ruto,” Nyabuto added.

The political analyst says whereas Gachagua assumed a state office, he confined himself to a crusader for Mt Kenya interests hence depicting himself as a tribal chieftain.

“He descended from the high office of the Deputy President and turned himself to an agitator for ethnic-based political and economic interests, falling prey to cannibalisation by forces within UDA which had already enlisted the support of ODM,” Nyabuto said, adding that even when it was apparent that he was falling out of favour with his boss, Gachagua failed to read the signs of the times and continued on his warpath.

“In his book, The Art of War, famous Chinese military strategist General Tsu cautioned that war should be avoided with diplomacy. General Tsu said that one should carefully examine the situation before engaging in war. If it cannot be avoided, it should be fought strategically and psychologically to minimise damage and wasting of resources,” he said.

Mungai, the former Molo MP, argues the unity between President Ruto and Raila over the 2027 succession game plan had further complicated Gachagua’s position in government.

“Politics is dynamic as interests keep changing with time. Gachagua appears to have failed to discern and internalise Ruto’s political power games, especially after realising that he was losing ground in the Mt Kenya region,” Mungai added.

Cleopas Isiaho, a political commentator, says intense competition for power within UDA, coupled with the 2027 succession game plans, had negatively impacted Gachagua’s continued stay in power.

Isiaho says Gachagua had failed to create networks within the UDA party and across the country and instead concentrated on his Mt Kenya backyard.

“Gachagua’s approach to politics placed him on a collision path with forces allied to President Ruto. The DP lost his relevancy in UDA when he relegated himself to a regional leader,” Isiaho said.

“The DP also thought he could use his support in Mt Kenya’s backyard to intimidate and blackmail President Ruto, who was his boss,” Isiaho stated.

The political analyst added that Gachagua exposed his political ambitions too early “exposing himself to intrigues and machinations of powerful forces behind President Ruto’s throne.”

“Gachagua, in pursuit of his ethnic-based agenda, failed to perceive that his stars were diminishing nationally, especially after the President forged a working alliance with Mr Odinga who provided an alternative political base,” Isiaho said, adding that although Gahagua rode to prominence through the instigation of a wave of discontentment in the Mt Kenya region, he failed to rally his people behind the President upon assuming office and instead used the support base to intimidate Ruto.”

“By the time Gachagua was realising his mistakes, he was on his own as he had stepped on the toes of virtually all leaders across the country,” Isiaho observed.