Rigathi Gachagua likes to present himself as the defender of the Kikuyu people — the man who will “unite Mt. Kenya.” But if we are honest, when has he ever done anything for the wellbeing of the Kikuyus in his entire public life?
As a District Officer during the Moi era, Gachagua wasn’t a hero for his people. He was part of the oppressive provincial system that silenced Kikuyu voices and intimidated those who dared to question the government. Many from Central Kenya remember him not as a reformer, but as a feared administrator who served power, not people.
Fast forward to when he became Deputy President — did things change? No. Gachagua used his position to threaten, not to uplift. He targeted Mt. Kenya businessmen who didn’t bow to his political demands, branding them traitors and using state organs to frustrate them. He divided his own community between “shareholders” and “non-shareholders,” turning brothers against each other for political gain.
When Mt. Kenya farmers cried over poor coffee and tea prices, where was Gachagua? Instead of fighting for better markets, he was busy fighting imaginary enemies and consolidating personal power. His obsession with control made him see every independent voice as a threat — not as a partner for progress.
Now that he’s out of power, he’s suddenly preaching unity, fairness, and inclusion. But unity can’t come from a man who has never practiced it. Gachagua’s record is one of intimidation, division, and manipulation. He’s not fighting for the Kikuyu; he’s fighting to stay relevant.
Let’s call it as it is — Rigathi Gachagua has never been a unifier. He has always worked for himself, never for the people he now claims to protect.
