On May 17, 2022, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua introduced Maina Muchangi to Kenyans, a man with whom he said they shared a friendship of over 18 years.
During the burial of his late brother James Reriani Gachagua in Mathira, Nyeri county, Gachagua was making his speech when he was abruptly interrupted by Muchangi who strode towards him without hesitation.
After a brief rapport, Gachagua reached into his coat and slid out cash which he handed to Muchangi.
With a beaming face Muchangi wandered around before walking off towards the direction he walked in from under a guffaw from the crowd.
DP Gachagua was then forced to intimate that he knows the ‘intruder’ and he was honouring a deal they made some years ago that he would be gifting him money at every encounter.
“It’s okay he’s my friend he’s called Muchangi. We agreed with him 18 years ago that every time we see each other I give him Ksh.1,000. Now he’s telling me he’s been waiting from 10 am and he has somewhere he needs to go, he is tired of waiting,” Gachagua told the crowd.
A year later, Gachagua went back to his Mathira home after a church service in Othaya, where he hosted Muchangi.
He took to X, formerly Twitter, saying that they shared a meal together and also honoured the deal he always had with Muchangi.
“A Leader’s Word Must Have Value. The value is in keeping a promise made. Early today, I hosted Maina Muchangi, my friend of close to two decades, for breakfast at home in Mathira, Nyeri County,” he wrote.
“We met 18 years ago; we agreed that whenever we meet, I must take care of him -by giving him something. And since then, I have kept my promise. This morning was one of those moments- a promise kept, and a happy Maina.”
The second in command further expressed his contentment of helping the vulnerable in society, adding that he also interacted with other neighbours in the village.
