Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has extended an olive branch to Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta whose tenure he has previously criticised severely and whom they have not been seeing eye to eye since Uhuru left office.
The two leaders were set to share a podium on Saturday at the burial service of retired Senior Assistant Inspector General of Police Zachary King’ori Mwangi in Tetu, Nyeri County.
The deputy president however arrived at the burial of the former police boss after Kenyatta had already left to attend the burial of Amos Kimunya’s wife Anne in Nyandarua.
Gachagua had kicked off the day in Kirinyaga County where he attended the mass funeral service of 17 people who died after consuming deadly illicit liquor at Kangai and Kandongu villages of Mwea-West Sub-county before proceeding to King’ori’s burial.
Addressing the mourners at the burial of the former assistant police IG, Gachagua expressed his eagerness to meet Kenyatta, whom he described as “a friend, former boss, and elder brother.”
He revealed his disappointment at missing the opportunity to greet Kenyatta in person due to a delay in the event’s schedule.
“I was looking forward to meeting my friend, former boss, and my elder brother, President Uhuru Kenyatta,” Gachagua said. “I wanted to come and greet him because I have not seen him for a while and tell him it is well.”
Despite acknowledging past disagreements, Gachagua emphasized that the elections were over, a new government was in place, and Kenyatta remained their leader. He commended Kenyatta for maintaining a dignified silence and enjoying his retirement peacefully, praising it as a mark of true leadership.
“I instructed leaders from this region that I don’t want to hear anyone attacking him verbally,” Gachagua asserted. “I said let him retire peacefully. If I had met him, I would have told him, so.”
Reflecting on their lengthy association, Gachagua highlighted their close relationship spanning 18 years, during which he served as Kenyatta’s Personal Assistant and confidant.
“Myself I stayed with President Uhuru Kenyatta for 18 years as his PA as his confidant as, as his defender. The years we stayed together as friends are 17. The ones we disagreed are two…. The good out ways the bad,” he said.
On his part, Kenyatta steered clear of politics in his address in Tetu, Nyeri County during the burial of former assistant inspector general of police King’ori Mwangi.
Despite calls by regional leaders to have the former president involved in unity talks among a section of leaders of Mt Kenya region leaders, the former head of state instead eulogized the departed former senior policeman as an astute serviceman, who served with diligence, earning himself accolades for distinguished service.
