Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s decision to opt for a commercial flight to Mombasa has heightened tensions within the ruling coalition, drawing criticism from a majority of Members of Parliament who accused him of orchestrating a PR stunt aimed at gaining public sympathy.
The debate that ensued saw the Leader of Majority in the National Assembly, Kimani Ichung’wah, clarifying that only the President and First Lady are entitled to military aircraft transportation.
The controversy emerged after DP Gachagua was photographed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) carrying a blue suitcase while boarding a commercial Kenya Airways flight to Mombasa. This move sparked discussions both within and outside Parliament, with opposition MPs initiating a debate that initially began as murmurs in the corridors of the House.
Nyando MP Jared Okello expressed his dismay, stating, “Yesterday, to my dismay, the deputy president took a commercial flight to Mombasa, and was carrying his own bag getting into the aircraft.”
Minority Whip Junet Mohamed also weighed in, remarking, “What struck me in that episode, as somebody who has travelled a lot, is the kind of bag the deputy president was carrying.
That kind of bag is not for the deputy president; that bag is for something else. Another thing that struck me is what was the content of that bag? Because the deputy president could not even give it to his bodyguard, he had to hold it himself.”
The incident and ensuing debate underscore the underlying tensions and divisions within the ruling coalition, as well as the scrutiny faced by top government officials in their public actions.
“Anything that can create dysfunction in government must be sorted as quickly as possible. When a hyena wants to eat its children, it starts saying that they smell like goats. Something is definitely not working,” added Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi.
MPs affiliated with the ruling Kenya Kwanza coalition have dismissed Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s decision to use a commercial flight as a publicity stunt aimed at garnering public sympathy. Majority Whip Sylvanus Osoro criticized the move, saying,
“It was a shame to see the deputy president moving around carrying a bag. In as much as one wants to pull some PR stunts, we should question the members of staff that work with the DP.”
Dagoretti South MP John Kiarie commented, “The DP is on record saying that he is a product of the drama festivals, he has acted on stage in plays, even at the University of Nairobi. So if he decides to put up a play, it is not the place of the Whip to call him out.
The DP is very serious about supporting the talents in this country, only a few days ago he was there for the launch of the Bahati show…we might have had a continuation of the same show on the JKIA runway.”
The heated debate follows closely on the heels of the Deputy President’s public admission of transportation challenges. During an Akorino prayer service in Nakuru, Gachagua revealed, “I had matatizo with my transport arrangements, ikaingia mambo ya hewa, nikachelewa kutoka, nikakwama pale kati ya Longonot na Naivasha karibu two hours ndio nifika hapa.”
Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah clarified that military aircraft transportation is not available to DP Gachagua, as it is reserved for the President and First Lady. The debate underscores the internal tensions and scrutiny within the ruling coalition regarding the actions and decisions of top government officials.
“It is only the President as Commander-in-Chief, and the First Lady who have access to military aircraft,” he said.
The Kikuyu MP went further to reveal that DP Gachagua’s assigned police helicopter is currently undergoing maintenance.
“The deputy president has a police aircraft designated for his use, which currently is under maintenance, and the Cabinet Secretary tells me in the next few weeks they will have finalized with its maintenance.”
