Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has cancelled all planned diaspora engagements during his three-week stay in South Africa, opting instead to focus on reflection and behind-the-scenes political talks aimed at rebuilding his future.
Sources close to his family reveal that Gachagua’s trip, which begins on November 14, is largely a personal retreat pushed by close relatives concerned about the toll politics has taken on both his wellbeing and the family’s business empire.
The once-thriving Gachagua family enterprises — spanning tender-based infrastructure supplies and hospitality — have faced tough times since his impeachment. Many of the businesses depended heavily on government contracts and state-sponsored conferences, which have since dried up. The situation has been worsened by private sector players who reportedly avoid his hotels and facilities for fear of government backlash.
Insiders say some of Gachagua’s businesses have gone months without paying staff, forcing the family to dig deep into personal reserves to stay afloat. The family now wants him to tone down his combative political approach and secure a truce that would allow a business recovery.
While in South Africa, Gachagua is expected to quietly meet senior government officials and allies to explore what insiders describe as a “win-win deal” — one that would let him realign politically while protecting his economic interests.
According to sources, Gachagua has privately told friends he is borrowing from ODM’s recent statement that it will support the government until 2027, saying he too is open to “strategic cooperation” for stability.
The trip, therefore, marks not just a break from the political heat but a critical moment of reflection for a man once seen as the face of Mt. Kenya politics, now recalibrating his next move.
