Gachagua to Uhuru: Our President, since you left, things haven’t been the same
By Kenneth Mwenda, April 1, 2026Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua used the funeral of former Kirinyaga Senator Daniel Karaba on Wednesday, April, 1, 2026, to raise concerns over current government policies. He told the Fourth President Uhuru Kenyatta that many of his initiatives had been dismantled or replaced with systems that are failing to work.
He highlighted challenges in the education and health sectors, warning that children are being affected by stalled government programmes.
“Rais wetu ulipoondoka mambo ya capitation ambayo ilikuwa inakuja kwa shule wazazi wanakua hawana shida. As we speak today watoto wako nyumbani. Walimu wamefunga shule mapema kwa sababu ya madeni because they have no money for capitation to pay suppliers,” he said.
Gachagua also criticised changes in the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), saying the new system, SHA, was failing to deliver the results previously achieved.
“Rais Uhuru Kenyatta my brother, ile NHIF ulipanga ilikuwa inafanya kazi mzuri ilitolewa yule jamaa akaleta nyama nyingine anaitwa SHA. Sijui kama umesikia Rais Kenyatta huyo SHA anaitwa SHA, SHU, SHI. Inafanya kazi? SHA inafanya kazi?”
He raised concerns over the transition from primary to high school, describing it as a “big challenge” and highlighting how public resources are being mismanaged.
“Tumetoka hapo mambo ya 100% transition ulipanga from primary school to high school. Its a big challenge. So kelele iko kila pahali. And tunajaribu where we can kusema hiyo maneno,” he said.
Gachagua also spoke about his ongoing dispute with Aden Duale over the Social Health Authority (SHA) claims.
“Juzi nimesema hii SHA limepata habari itakollapse within six months. Na nikaomba mahospitali wachukue pesa yao so that ikisabaratika maospitali yetu isikue na shida,” he stated.
SHA funds under fire
The former deputy president directly challenged Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale over the claimed misuse of SHA funds.
“Huyu waziri anapiga kelele. Ile maneno nimemwuliza ajibu hataki kujibu. Anasema ati tunapiga Wasomali. Mimi nauliza wewe waziri Duale, ukiiba pesa ya SHA, Wasomali walikuwa hapo? Ukijenga mall uko Yaya Center na ingine Karen Wasomali walikuwa pale?”
“Ile pesa yote mmechukua ya SHA ni wewe. Usiingize jamii ya Wasomali kwa shida zako. The Somali community is an honorable community that does business in this country. Don’t drag the community into your challenges.”
Gachagua demanded transparency from the Ministry of Health on the management of SHA funds, calling for online platforms to be reinstated so Kenyans could track spending.
“The question I asked you, Duale, is, can you confirm that the system ile inaregulate SHA is domiciled in Dubai or not? Can you answer that question, is it yes or no? Tena nakuuliza, before Wakenya wapige kelele, there was an online platform ilionyesha pesa ya SHA vile inatumika kila siku wakenya waelewe. Why did you stop it?”
“Can you bring back that platform so that Kenyans can monitor hii pesa ya SHA inaenda namna gani?”
““Na ndio hii Nairobi Hospital ilitaka kuibiwa. Because walijua wakiiba Nairobi Hospital, kwa sababu ni hospital kubwa ya matajiri, pesa ya SHA ipite….”
Gachagua used the event to stress unity in the United Opposition, urging leaders to consolidate behind a single candidate.
“These are the issues of the day, na sisi zotaka kusema we are determined. Na vile tumeuulizwa hapa, it is true, tumekubaliana. Kama ni Martha karua, kama ni Muturi, kama ni Wamalwa, kama ni Matiang’i, kama ni Kalonzo, kama ni Riggy G, tunataka Candidate mmoja.”
Two decades of trust
Gachagua also reflected on his long working relationship with Uhuru Kenyatta, stressing the trust and experience built over two decades.
“When myself have been personal assistant to President Uhuru Kenyatta for many years. I have worked with President Uhuru Kenyatta for 20 years, working close. Hii jamaa ameingia kati kati yetu tumekosana mwaka tatu. Sasa kati ya mwaka tatu na ishirini ni ngani mingi,” he said.
The funeral saw a rare public interaction between Uhuru Kenyatta and Gachagua, raising speculation that the two may be reconciling politically after years of strained relations following Gachagua’s support for President William Ruto in 2022.