Rigathi Gachagua’s arrogance is not a new phenomenon. His current behavior on the national stage mirrors the same false sense of importance he carried when he first ventured into politics in Mathira back in 2017.
At the time, Gachagua was walking around boasting about how his family was influential and how they dictated who got elected and who did not. He believed the Mathira race was already in his pocket and that he could bulldoze his way to victory without much effort. But reality struck hard when he was floored during the Jubilee primaries.
The man who today postures as a kingmaker in Mt. Kenya could not even survive the grassroots rejection that year. To the shock of many, a 74-year-old woman, Wambura wa Maranga, humbled him decisively in the primaries. Her victory was a reminder that politics is not about arrogance, entitlement, or family name—it is about connecting with the people.
That humiliation forced Gachagua to go back to the drawing board, licking his wounds before re-strategizing for the 2017 Parliamentary elections that he was forced to rig again after his defeat in the primaries. Yet, even today, the same pride and chest-thumping he displayed back then remain his trademark. He thrives on threats, blackmail, and divisive rhetoric, mistaking fear for respect.
The story of Wambura wa Maranga remains an important lesson: no matter how loud Gachagua shouts or how powerful he claims to be, the people hold the final say. Just like in 2017, his arrogance may once again become his downfall in the 2027 elections.
History has a way of repeating itself, especially when a leader refuses to learn from past mistakes.
