Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has strongly rebuked certain leaders associated with President William Ruto for attempting to undermine his position. Speaking in Kirinyaga County on Saturday during an empowerment program, an evidently upset Gachagua criticized a group of Cabinet Secretaries, Ruto’s Personal Assistants, and friends for creating discord between him and the president.
Gachagua expressed his bewilderment over the perceived audacity of personal assistants, cabinet secretaries, or bloggers who believe they have authority over an elected deputy president, supported by millions of Kenyans.
He condemned these individuals for their condescending attitudes, firmly asserting that only the president and the Kenyan populace have the right to direct his actions.
“Even some of his friends, his PAs want to order me around on how to do my work. Is it possible? Even bloggers of the president want to tell me what to do… you know me, I have only two bosses, President Ruto and the people of Kenya,” Ruto said.
“What the president tells me to do, I have done and will continue to do, respect him and be loyal to him. But I cannot allow people who hang around him, his friends, to also think they are my bosses, they are not. I am elected by the people of Kenya. I cannot confuse my boss with his friends, I am not that stupid, I know the difference.”
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua criticized President William Ruto’s friends for their overenthusiasm in leadership matters, attributing this to their proximity to the head of state. He urged them to remember their place and not overstep their bounds.
Gachagua accused these allies of causing the perceived discord and rift between him and the president, revealing that they have created a WhatsApp group called “Project 22” to incite other leaders against him.
“The problem you are currently witnessing is that some people who are friends of the president also want to be my boss. Is it possible?” Gachagua posed.
“Now they are trying to incite other leaders against me through a group called Project 22 by convincing them that I am a bad person.”
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua recalled the period leading up to the 2022 Presidential Elections, asserting that his current critics were also against him when President William Ruto named him as his running mate.
He stated, “When Ruto was looking for a running mate, he had many choices. There was a small group that was saying that if he made me his deputy, he would fail. They attempted to convince him but finally, he made up his mind as a very seasoned politician and concluded that it was me to be his deputy.”
Gachagua reaffirmed his commitment to the unity of Mt Kenya, vowing not to be swayed from his beliefs. He dismissed claims of advocating for tribal politics, emphasizing that unity in the region would ensure greater access to national resources.
“We have elected Ruto knowing that he is not a Kikuyu. We don’t want people telling us that we are tribal. We are patriots because of electing Ruto,” he said.
