Gachagua jets out to South Africa to represent Ruto at Ramaphosa’s swearing-in
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is jetting out of the country to represent President William Ruto at the swearing-in ceremony of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
According to a press statement by the head of Deputy Presidential Communication Service (DPCS) Njeri Rugene, DP Gachagua is expected to fly out tonight.
"Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua departs the country tonight, Tuesday, June 18, 2024, for Pretoria, South Africa. The Deputy President will represent President William Ruto at the Swearing-in of H.E Cryril Ramaphosa, following his re-election as the President of the Republic of South Africa," Njeri Rugene said in the statement.
Gachagua carrying Ruto's message
Ramaphosa will be inaugurated on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, in Pretoria.
Gachagua is expected to deliver President Ruto's congratulatory message to Ramaphosa and the people of South Africa.
"The inauguration will be held tomorrow, Wednesday, June 19, 2024, in Pretoria. DP Gachagua will deliver a Congratulatory message from H.E President Ruto to President Ramaphosa and the People of South Africa. Kenya and South Africa continue deepening diplomatic relations for the benefit of the people of the two Nations," Rugene stated.
Deputy President @rigathi Gachagua will represent H.E President @WilliamsRuto at the affirmation of President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa in Pretoria. He travels tonight. pic.twitter.com/A9OOca3Uyg— Njeri Rugene (@NRugene) June 18, 2024
This comes days after Azimio Leader Raila Odinga delivered President Ruto's message of condolences in Malawi during the funeral of Malawi Vice President Saulos Chilima.
Ruto-Gachagua fray
Gachagua was in the country when Raila flew out to represent President Ruto at the funeral.
Gachagua and Ruto have not been enjoying a good relationship, with their allies attacking each other in political meetings.
Cracks between the two leaders started emerging when Gachagua kicked off Mt Kenya unity calls, which President Ruto opposed terming it as tribal politics.
President Ruto is also opposed to Gachagua's calls for the one man, one vote, one shilling revenue sharing formula.
Ramaphosa's re-election
The South African Parliament re-elected Ramaphosa as the country's president following a landmark coalition deal between the governing African National Congress (ANC) and opposition parties.
The new government of national unity combines Ramaphosa's ANC, the centre-right Democratic Alliance (DA) and smaller parties.
In his victory speech, Ramaphosa hailed the new coalition, and said voters expected the leaders to "to act and to work together for the good of everyone in our country".
The agreement was hashed out on a day of high political drama, which saw the National Assembly sitting late into the evening for votes to confirm who would hold power in the new administration.
Earlier, a deal was struck following weeks of speculation about whom the ANC would partner with after losing its parliamentary majority for the first time in 30 years in last month's elections.
It got 40% of the vote, while the DA came second with 22%.
For these and more credible stories, join our revamped Telegram and WhatsApp channels.
Telegram: https://t.me/peopledailydigital
WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va698juDOQIToHyu1p2z
