Jubilee Party vice chairman David Murathe has disclosed details of his private meeting with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua before he was ousted from the position.

While speaking during the book launch of former Public Service Cabinet Secretary JB Muturi in Nairobi, on Friday, November 8, 2025, Murathe stated that they met in a private forum before Gachagua was shown the door out of government while still serving as Deputy President.

In the past, Murathe was critical of Gachagua, especially in the run-up to the 2022 general elections when they were on different political divides.

Murathe continued to state that during Gachagua’s final days in office, when cracks between him and President Ruto were becoming visible and the President’s allies were using every forum to attack him, impeachment talks were already in full swing.

He revealed that during their private meeting, Gachagua confided to him that if the government continued to persecute him as it was doing, he would one day appear at JKIA carrying his own bag while going to government duties.

“Wewe, Riggy G, umejuwa mahali tumetoka. The last time I met Riggy G was in a private place, and akaniambia, ‘Hii watu wakinichezea mtaniona kwa airport, naenda kama deputy president kufanya kazi ya serikali nikiwa nimebeba suitcase yangu’. Simliona yeye,” Murathe said.

Urge to United Opposition

This was indeed evident in September 2024 when Gachagua brought the nation to a standstill after storming JKIA carrying his own suitcase.

The incident caused an uproar, prompting the then Minority Leader Junet Mohammed to move a motion to discuss the conduct of the then Deputy President, terming it a disgrace to the country.

Murathe went on to shower the former Deputy President with praise, saying that he is up to the task and should be fronted as the United Opposition flag bearer.

He further told the United Opposition principals that all they are waiting for now is the “white smoke” after agreeing on who the front runner will be.

He also backed remarks by the former president, Uhuru Kenyatta, cautioning members of the Jubilee Party against insulting United Opposition leaders like Rigathi Gachagua, saying that he is unhappy with this trend and will expel them from the party if they continue.