A peep at Gachagua’s hysteria and untenable delusions

By Cindy Kirui

In Kenya’s political theatre there is no shortage of characters that mistake ambition for aptitude. In that regard, no one embodies that delusion more starkly than ousted Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. His recent attempts to position himself as a “kingmaker” in the Mount Kenya region and by extension, national politics are overtly premature and visibly disconnected from reality.

Gachagua’s political career, built as it is on ethical quicksand, exposes a glaring lack of vision and an overreliance on divisive rhetoric. These are qualities of a man unqualified to anoint leaders, let alone aspire to the presidency. Kenya deserves better than relics of transactional politics.

True kingmakers wield influence through strategic alliances, grassroots mobilisation, and a well-stocked reservoir of public trust, none of which Gachagua possesses. His political relevance hinges almost entirely on his brief, turbulent tenure as DP under William Ruto, and his one-term stint as Mathira MP, positions to which he owed no personal merit, strictly speaking.

His attempt to dominate Mount Kenya politics has not been met with open arms by several governors, MPs, and grassroots leaders who view him as a Johnny-come-lately parachuted into high office through patronage. His recent fallout with the President culminating in his unceremonious political sidelining reveals a man incapable of sustaining alliances. A kingmaker? More like a court jester, whose theatrics reveal a man lacking in presidential substance.

To even entertain Gachagua as presidential material requires a wilful disregard of his record. As Deputy President, he was conspicuously absent from critical policy debates, opting instead for inflammatory tribal rhetoric that only deepened national divisions. Where leadership demands accountability Gachagua specialises in deflection of issues and self-victimisation.

Gachagua’s ethical credentials are obviously dubious. If you recall, back in 2022, the High Court froze millions in his bank accounts over suspected corruption, with judges citing “staggering” sums of unexplained wealth. While he has since reclaimed the funds, a cloud of suspicion lingers on his material acquisitions. Meanwhile, Gachagua’s political brand thrives on division while beneath his populist veneer lies a cynical opportunist. His sudden resolve to champion Mount Kenya unity after years of sidelining some of his most faithful political acquaintances from the region reeks of desperation. A unifying leader builds permanent bridges. Gachagua burns them.

Compared to leaders like Martha Karua, whose principled advocacy for justice has earned her universal respect, Gachagua is a pale shadow of the kind of national leader or kingmaker Kenya deserves. By contrast, he lacks a coherent ideology beyond self-preservation. His speeches oscillate between victimhood and bravado, offering no tangible solutions to the social woes that true leaders focus on.

Some of Gachagua’s allies argue that his “street-smart” political instincts make him indispensable. But instincts without poise and substance are nothing but a liability. His attempt at populism fails because he lacks strategic networks. Gachagua’s flimsy and fleeting shade of influence feeds off the cheering on by a bunch of rent-seeking sycophants and short-term deals.

Moreover, his leadership style reeks of authoritarianism. He has openly threatened to “deal with” critics and publicly humiliated civil servants, betraying a thin-skinned intolerance for dissent. In an era where democratic values are under global assault, Kenya cannot afford leaders who conflate strength with bullying.

Rigathi Gachagua is a symptom of Kenya’s deeper malaise. His worldview is soaked an attitude that prioritises power over service, rhetoric over results, and tribe over nation. He is mediocrity personified.

Kenya’s future has no place for leaders who cannot transcend ethnic chauvinism, and articulate a vision beyond personal gain or glory. Gachagua offers none of these. His political obituary is already being written, not by his enemies, but by his own missteps and unstoppable mouth.

If anything, we should let Gachagua’s follies serve as a cautionary tale reminding us all that in a democracy, no amount of bluster can mask ungainliness. The sooner Gachagua fades into irrelevance, the better for Kenya.

Cindy is a budding music scholar, human rights activist and a commentator on social affairs.