Gachagua urges professionals to rescue Kenya from reckless leadership
By Kiprono Keileb, November 2, 2025Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has called on professionals across the country to take an active role in shaping Kenya’s leadership, warning that their silence risks leaving the nation in the hands of reckless decision-makers.
Speaking during the Ngemi ya Watho festival hosted by the legal fraternity of the GEMA region in Thika on Saturday, November 2, 2025, Gachagua said professionals have a moral duty to participate in national leadership to ensure Kenya remains on the right path.
“Professionals bear a profound responsibility in the leadership and governance of Kenya. Their active engagement is crucial to ensure sound policies and laws that foster national development,” Gachagua stated.
He cautioned that when professionals take a back seat in governance, the country risks falling into the hands of unqualified and opportunistic leaders whose actions can undo years of progress.
“In their absence, the risk of reckless leadership and poor policymaking increases, potentially leading our nation down a path of irreversible decline and diminishing our stature on the international stage,” he said.
The former Deputy President praised the role of lawyers, engineers, doctors, and other skilled Kenyans in building institutions that uphold accountability and transparency. He challenged them to go beyond their professional spaces and bring their knowledge and discipline into public leadership.
“Tonight, at the Ngemi ya Watho festival hosted by the legal fraternity of the GEMA region, in Thika, I challenged our lawyers and other professionals to step forward and play their vital role in sanitising and strengthening Kenya’s governance,” he said.
Gachagua added that reforming governance and restoring integrity in leadership requires professionals to speak out against corruption, inefficiency, and impunity.
He also expressed gratitude for the chance to engage with some of the country’s top legal minds, describing the forum as both insightful and inspiring.
“It was a pleasure to interact and learn from my esteemed colleagues, SC Kalonzo Musyoka, Justin Muturi, and a host of learned friends,” he wrote.
The former Deputy President’s remarks come amid growing debate about the role of professionals in public service and policy formulation, as Kenya grapples with economic, social, and governance challenges that demand expertise and integrity-driven leadership.