Kenya has a short memory, but it is dangerous to forget who Rigathi Gachagua really is. If not for his impeachment, he would still be standing shoulder to shoulder with President William Ruto, loudly justifying every government policy—no matter how painful it is to ordinary Kenyans. He would be praising affordable housing as the “best thing to happen to Kenya,” telling us that those who did not vote for Ruto are not shareholders in the country, and mocking Gen Z for daring to question the status quo.
This is not speculation; it is history repeating itself. As Deputy President, Gachagua perfected the art of intimidation and abuse. He belittled opposition leaders, defended abductions, and ridiculed citizens demanding accountability. His politics thrived on fear, division, and ethnic mobilisation. The only reason we see a softer, seemingly “humble” Gachagua today is because impeachment clipped his wings. Power slowed him down—but it did not change him.
To truly understand Gachagua, one must look back at his record. As a District Officer under Moi, he was known for ruthlessness and atrocities against those who resisted the regime. In his short stint as Deputy President, he wielded power not to unify but to crush dissent. Every time Gachagua has had authority, he has abused it.
Now he is rebranding himself as a “man of the people,” pretending to side with the same Kenyans he once dismissed as inconsequential. But the leopard has not changed its spots. Giving him leadership again would be a grave mistake. Kenya cannot afford another cycle of fear, intimidation, and retrogressive politics.
Rigathi Gachagua with power is not a leader—he is a monster waiting to re-emerge.
