Late or left out? DP Gachagua's late arrival at event sparks debate

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua arriving for the Akurino National prayer conference at Nakuru high school.[Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has broken protocol, for arriving an hour after President William Ruto and other leaders had settled at an event, eliciting mixed reactions among Kenyans.

This was during the Akorino National Conference held at Nakuru Boys High School in Nakuru on Sunday, June 9.

The president arrived at the event alongside Governors Susan Kihika, Muthomi Njuki and Irungu Kang’ata, Cabinet Secretaries Zachary Njeru and Moses Kuria and a host of other elected and non-elected Kenya Kwanza leaders.

About an hour after the president made his way to the grounds, the Deputy President arrived, raising eyebrows on whether he was late or was left out of the day’s plans.

According to the national security protocol, individuals who arrive at an event after the president has sat down are not allowed to access the venue.

Protocol also demands the DP arrives at a venue way before the Head of State to welcome him.

Sources close to the Deputy President’s office have told The Standard that the Deputy President was aware of the event but was late due to unavoidable challenges.

“The DP was aware of the event today and he was part of the event planning. He arrived late due to transport and weather challenges in Karen,” a source at the DP’s office says.

When his turn at the podium came, Gachagua apologized and explained to the president why he arrived at the event in Nakuru when the service was underway.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua arriving for the Akurino National prayer conference at Nakuru high school.[Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

He says he had problems with his transport arrangements adding that the weather was also not favorable for air travel and his team had to sort it out before his journey began.

“Mr President, first of all, I want to ask for forgiveness from you for coming late. I am not a person with because I was a uniformed officer and, in your government, I am the most disciplined person. I delayed to leave Karen and along the way, I was stuck between Longonot and Naivasha for almost two hours before I could get here because of the bad weather,” the DP explains.

Surprisingly, when the DP arrived, the seat reserved for him next to the president as protocol dictates, had been occupied by Land CS Zachary Njeru but when he arrived the CS had to leave the seat for the second in command.

Sunday’s happenings at Nakuru Boys raised questions in the political space. Owing to the ongoing speculations of a rift between the president and his Deputy.

Of late, the DP has been making trips in the Mount Kenya Region pushing the one man, one vote, one shilling narrative that aims to increase funding to counties in the region. He has also been pushing for unity of Mount Kenya Region leaders.

On the other hand, his boss, the president has dismissed tribal politics by asking leaders to shun from what he terms as divisive politics and unite as a country.