As tear gas filled the air and protesters braved bullets, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua was nowhere to be seen. While thousands of brave Gen Z Kenyans took to the streets to mark the one-year anniversary of the deadly anti-finance bill demonstrations, the self-proclaimed “truth-teller” and defender of Mt. Kenya watched in silence — from the comfort of his Wamunyoro residence.
Gachagua, who has built his political brand on fiery rhetoric and claiming to stand with the oppressed, went completely quiet on June 25th, the very day Kenyans needed leadership the most. He last posted online on June 23rd after meeting over 500 Maa mobilizers — yet said nothing as young Kenyans were beaten, teargassed, and shot while demanding a better country.
His slogan “Wantam” (One Term) trended during the protests, written on placards and shouted in the streets — but its originator was missing. Online, young people were quick to notice. “Where is Gachagua?” one user posted. Another joked, “Jamaa amejificha uko Wamunyoro.” The silence wasn’t just deafening — it was telling.
While opposition leaders like Kalonzo Musyoka, Eugene Wamalwa, and even former Chief Justice David Maraga risked being in the crowd — and Maraga was even teargassed — Gachagua remained hidden. For someone who regularly accuses others of cowardice, his absence paints a different picture.
This is not the mark of a leader — it is the sign of a political opportunist who incites others to fight while he watches from the sidelines. A true Mau Mau wouldn’t run. A real leader shows up when it matters most.
Gachagua’s silence wasn’t strategy — it was cowardice disguised as caution. And the youth of Kenya have taken note.
