Kericho senator Aaron Cheruiyot has come out to state that there is a lot they taught former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua during the 2022 campaigns.

Speaking during an interview on Herman Manyora’s podcast aired on Thursday, May 8, 2026, the outspoken Senate majority leader dismissed claims that there is any personal vendetta between him and Gachagua.

According to Cheruiyot, his criticism of the former deputy president is purely based on what he termed as Gachagua’s style of politics and leadership.

The Kericho senator explained that they worked very closely with Gachagua during the 2022 presidential campaigns while popularising William Ruto’s bid across the country.

He claimed that when Gachagua joined Parliament, he found leaders like them already experienced in legislative affairs, adding that they mentored and guided him on many parliamentary matters.

“There is a lot that we taught Gachagua. Remember, he was our junior in Parliament, and we taught him the ways around Parliament and many other things. We nurtured him,” Cheruiyot stated.

Running mate stand-off

Cheruiyot further revealed that even Gachagua himself initially believed that the then Tharaka Nithi senator Kithure Kindiki was the most likely person to become William Ruto’s running mate ahead of the 2022 general election.

However, according to the senator, political events later changed and eventually saw Gachagua being picked as Ruto’s running mate before later becoming Kenya’s deputy president.

Ichung’wah’s claims

On the other side, Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wah came out recently stating that Gachagua shed tears during negotiations on who would deputise for William Ruto in his 2022 presidential bid.

While speaking during an interview with Obinna TV aired on Thursday, April 23, 2026, the majority leader, who is an ardent critic of the former deputy president.

He stated that Gachagua broke down after realising things were not going his way and that opinion polls conducted among MPs were leaning towards Kithure Kindiki.

“Gachagua alikuwa analia machozi kama mtoto,” he said.

He further narrated that when the discussions became intense, and they could not agree on who would become Ruto’s deputy, the president allowed him and Kindiki to hold a closed-door meeting to decide between themselves who would take the position of running mate. However, according to Ichung’wah, they failed to reach an agreement.