Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wah has stated that Democracy for Citizens (DCP) party leader Rigathi 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 strongly criticised the former Deputy President, saying he broke down after realising things were not going his way and that opinion polls conducted among MPs were leaning towards the then Tharaka Nithi senator Kithure Kindiki.

“Gachagua alikuwa analia machozi kama mtoto.”

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.

At some point, Ichung’wah claimed, Gachagua walked out of the talks and went home with his family, threatening to join the Azimio camp. He added that it took the intervention of Kapsaret MP Oscar Sudi and Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro to calm him down and bring him back to the negotiations.

Heated negotiations

The President then, according to Ichung’wah, held another meeting involving Kindiki, Gachagua, Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro, and other leaders. He said emotions again ran high during this meeting, where Gachagua again shed tears.

“Si ndidi alikuwa mtu wake; waliingia kwa ofisi rigathi, Kindiki, Ndidi, Kimani, Ngunjiri, so ndidi akatoka kwenda choo, and we met. I asked him, ‘Kunaenda aje?’ and he told me, ‘Imagine the guy is crying.'”

He further explained that after prolonged discussions into the night, the Tangatanga team was unable to agree on who to be ruto’s running mate. As a result, they decided to leave the final decision to the president, who was to announce his choice the following day.

That is how, according to Ichung’wah, the president settled on Rigathi Gachagua as his running mate in the 2022 General Election.

Ichungwa’s refusal for DP slot

Ichung’wah also stated that he was among those considered for the position but told the president not to include him in the shortlist, saying he preferred to remain in Parliament as the Kikuyu MP. He added that he did not want a role that could limit his ability to freely speak or hold the government accountable when necessary.