‘Media portrayed me as primitive until my brilliant debate performance’ – Rigathi Gachagua

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua claims that during the run-up to the August 9th presidential elections, certain quarters on social media painted him as illiterate and primitive only for him to disprove them with a brilliant performance during the Deputy Presidential debate.

After the heated debate, Gachagua was largely viewed to have beaten Azimio’s Martha Karua despite earlier predictions indicating that Karua would easily outwit him.

While addressing graduates at the Outspan Medical College graduation ceremony where he served as the chief guest, the second-in-command stated that he was portrayed as primitive by the media to brand him as a poor choice for Kenya Kwanza’s high stake running mate position.

“During the campaign period, social media tried to portray me as somebody who has not gone to school, somebody primitive. This was until I went to the Deputy Presidential debate, nikaporomosha kizungu mpaka wakajua mimi ni mtu nimesoma,” he stated.

This Saturday morning I joined Outspan Medical College for 11th Graduation Ceremony, Nyeri County.

415 graduates are graduating in various disciplines; Nursing, Clinical Medicine, Health records, Psychology, Health Service support and Nutrition and Dietetics. pic.twitter.com/Wvfrj2szEv

— Rigathi Gachagua (@rigathi) November 19, 2022

Outlining his educational journey, Gachagua underscored the import of education revealing that he paused his Master’s degree course dream when the 2022 presidential campaigns hit fever pitch.

“I was at the University of Nairobi from 1985 to 1988. Those who said I did not go to school now know. I started my master’s in international relations with a bias to conflict management but when things got tough I decided to focus on clinching the seat,” he stated amid cheers from the graduates.