Gachagua to Ruto: Talk to me first before reaching out to Kalonzo
By Kenneth Mwenda, September 20, 2025Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Saturday, September 20, 2025, told President William Ruto to stop sending people to look for Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, insisting that he should speak to him [Gachagua] directly.
Gachagua made the remarks during a church service in Mutituni, Machakos County. He attended the service with Kalonzo Musyoka, Justin Muturi, and several other opposition leaders who have in recent months held joint visits across the country.
“Sisi na nyinyi we are one family. Sindio. Wakati umefika familia ikae pamoja. Na tunaambia Ruto, keep off family matters, sindio? Wewe unatumana ati kila siku watu yako watafute huyu Kalonzo, please, wewe ukitaka Kalonzo uongee na mimi. Yes. Sisi tumeketi na Kalonzo, na viongozi wa Wakamba, na Wakikuyu, na Wameru na Waembu na nimeambiwa for the time being, I’m the family’s spokesman. So wewe kama unataka kuongea na Kalonzo, hapana tumia brokers. Kuja unitafute,” Gachagua said.
He added that before Ruto could look for them, he must first “resurrect the young people who died.” He stressed that he had been asked by leaders from different communities to act as their spokesman.
Some of the people who had recently planned to reach out to Kalonzo include Deputy President Kithure Kindiki. In June, while speaking in Kitui, Kindiki referred to Kalonzo as his elder brother and promised to look for him.
“He is my brother, I will look for him…” Kindiki said then, while suggesting Kalonzo was being misled by those pushing ethnic politics. Kindiki went further to argue that Kalonzo was better suited to work with him rather than with leaders allied to Gachagua.
Recalls youthful days
Gachagua explained that his decision to attend the church service in Mutituni was also influenced by a sense of belonging with the people of Machakos.
“Nataka niseme kiongozi aliniambia tukuje, nilikuwa nataka niende pande ya Embu. Lakini niliposikia ninaitwa kwa cousins, hi cousins, Mko sawa macuzo? Saa hii vile Kasongo ametusumbua, na kusumbua Kenya, mtu anakimbilia kwa familia yake. Si mambo ikikua ngumu unakimbilia kwa family? Sasa when I heard my cousins are calling, nikasema wacha niende kwa familia. Sisi na nyinyi we are one family. Sindio,” he told the faithful.
Gachagua also reflected on his youthful days in Machakos, saying he once lived and worked there as a young man in the 1980s before joining university. He recalled serving as an untrained teacher at Kwanthanze, earning a salary of Ksh1,230.
“Your excellency Kalonzo Musyoka mimi si mgeni hapa, area hii ya mtituni, mumbuni, kuelekea mpaka town. 1984, nilikuwa hapa nikiwa kijana mdogo nikingoja kwenda university. Nilikuwa mwalimu; yule anaitwa UT, untrained teacher. Hapa Kwanthanze; nilikuwa nasomesha hapo. Tulikuwa tunalipwa Ksh1,230, na ilikuwa pesa mingi sana. Ilikuwa inatosha unanunua jeans unanunua nini, tunaenda disco pale gungani, unajua gungani? Na inabaki. Na tunakaa hapo, tunakaa hapo vizuri sana,” he said.
He remembered how affordable life was then, noting that with his pay he could cover his needs and still enjoy outings, including disco nights. He mentioned a local elder, Kavoo, whose son taught alongside him at Kwanthanze.