Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has for the first time opened up about the tribulations he endured in President William Ruto’s administration.

In a tell-it-all, wide-ranging interview with several vernacular radio and TV stations from the Mt Kenya region, Gachagua spoke about his frustrations as the second in command, including that MPs were warned against working with him, his phone conversations with friends and allies were tapped, and his business associates were threatened.

A visibly exasperated Gachagua also publicly declared his dalliance with retired President Uhuru Kenyatta and cautioned leaders in the Central region against attacking or demeaning him.

Suspicions about an anti-Gachagua plot were heightened last week after five of his allies and aides were questioned by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) over their possible role in violent protests that rocked the country last month.

Allies questioned

The four included Embakasi North MP James Gakuya, his Embakasi Central counterpart Benjamin Gathiru, former MPs George Theuri and Ngunjiri Wambugu and aide Munene wa Mumbi.

The DP, who was previously known for his bare-knuckle attacks on Kenyatta, vowed to defend the retired President to the hilt against what he called unwarranted attacks from the current political establishment.

“I will not let Uhuru Kenyatta’s name be dragged through the mud ever again. I will defend him very strongly. He should be respected for his dedication and hard work he put in for the country,” Gachagua said.

He continued: “The retired President and his family should be given space to enjoy their peace.”

On the issue of Kenyatta’s delayed perks, the DP urged the government to release any money held, saying it was the former President’s constitutional right.

“Let him be given his retirement benefits, his cars and his bodyguards. I see no need to continue holding [them],” he said

And in a shocking attack on the Kenya Kwanza administration, which he serves, Gachagua reminded the region that Kenyatta had warned Mt Kenya communities against voting for the coalition but they did not listen to him.

“Uhuru had warned the region not to vote for us, but you did not listen. In fact, Uhuru came to Kasarani Stadium during the handover as an embarrassed man,” said the DP.

“He went to Kasarani embarrassed and handed over the sword. Now it has been two years since then, why are we still blaming him for our problems like the economy? Let us leave him alone,” he said.

Reconciliation push

Months before the 2022 elections, Kenyatta warned the Mt Kenya electorate against voting for UDA, insisting that they would come to regret their actions.

Gachagua is said to be reaching out to the former President and the region for reconciliation, and has been talking against maligning him.

“Uhuru is the king of our community. We should accord him the necessary respect,” said the DP.

“Let us teach our youth never again to be used by anyone to vilify our king. Let us love each other so that we get our rightful share of the Kenyan cake.”

On alleged impeachment plans against him, Gachagua dismissed the plot, saying it was orchestrated by known political foes.

“I have heard about the impeachment plans, but I’m not worried at all,” he asserted.

He said the plans were being pushed by people close to President William Ruto who are uncomfortable with his push for a united Mt Kenya region.

“If speaking for my people will be the reason for my impeachment, I’m ready to go home. I’m still young,” Gachagua charged.

He also spoke about how MPs, especially those from Mt Kenya, are warned by a close ally of President Ruto not to get close to him.

“They receive threatening calls from this official who issues threats to the MPs. It makes it very difficult for them to work under these conditions,” he said.

He also cited bad blood between him and the National Intelligence Service (NIS) director, saying the official had reported untruths against him. “All phone calls to me are tapped. I don’t know for what reason. Anyone who talks to me or even visits me is closely monitored,” he claimed.

He warned NIS boss Noordin Haji and the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to avoid being used for political reasons.

Impeachment claims

On the inclusion of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leaders in President Ruto’s new Cabinet, Gachagua said he hadn’t been aware of the moves and only learned about them through the media when President Ruto met Odinga in Uganda earlier this year.

“I have no capacity to advise President Ruto, because he is my boss. Sometimes he listens to me and sometimes he convinces me of his decision,” Gachagua said.

“He has brought people who did not vote for us into the Cabinet and he is the best person to explain that. My main job was to ensure that slots that were meant for Mt Kenya region were retained to ensure that my people are taken care of.”

The entry of Odinga and his allies into the Kenya Kwanza government, he said, had also been linked to the impeachment claims.

The four Raila allies nominated to the Cabinet are former governors Wycliffe Oparanya and Hassan Joho, National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi and ODM national chairman John Mbadi. They were vetted by the National Assembly’s Appointments Committee. 

“I hear they wanted to impeach me but they did not have the numbers to do so. Now I hear that they are saying with Raila and his people in government they have the numbers to oust me if they unite,” Gachagua said.

Coming to help

He explained that a brief he received from President Ruto said the ODM leaders were brought on board to help stabilise the country, not to impeach him.

“The President did not tell me the Opposition leader was coming with his people to get rid of me, he said they were coming to help, and I believed him. So I am not taking the impeachment issues seriously,” he said.

The DP said he was shocked to hear that the plot to impeach him was being mooted by MPs from his backyard of Mt Kenya.

He said he was caught by surprise that colleagues from his region were being used to fight him even as he fought for the interests of the region.

“This is my thinking – if it is our Mt Kenya people pushing the impeachment motion, I would be so shocked because I don’t know why they would have a problem. I’m speaking for Mt Kenya people,” he said.

He told MPs to first collect signatures from their constituencies before attempting to vote in Parliament.

The DP spoke even as some MPs met at the residence of a powerful Cabinet Secretary-nominee in Karen, Nairobi.

However, reports say President Ruto had not endorsed the ouster plot, leaving those present undecided on whether to unleash their troops.

MPs opposed to the DP’s style of leadership accuse him of insubordination, undermining the presidency, fuelling anti-government protests and preaching tribal politics.

Another team of politicians allied to the DP, led by Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga and Senator Wahome Wamatinga, have put up a strong defence, warning local MPs backing the impeachment motion about the possible wrath from voters.

Gachagua also read a sinister motive in the removal of United Democratic Alliance (UDA) secretary general Cleophas Malala from office last week, to be replaced by East African Legislative Assembly MP Hassan Omar, saying it was executed behind his back.

“No one consulted me on the ouster of Cleophas Malala. They evicted him at 5am. That is not how a ruling party should be behaving. As a party deputy leader, I wanted to attend, but by 6 am, I was told by my people that the meeting was over,” he said