Flashing the victim card and ramping up anger among his ethnic Kikuyu community, you are yet to see the last of impeached Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, a newly published analytical book says.
The book, Rigathi Gachagua and The Politics of Betrayal, says Gachagua has strategically singled out waxing up the anger in Mt Kenya to dim re-election chances of President William Ruto and also boost his ratings.
From curated media appearances through interviews to heightened social media activities and impromptu village meetings, the book says Gachagua could hold sway against Ruto.
It was published by the Nairobi Law Monthly – a publication affiliated to lawyer Ahmednassir Abdullahi – and edited by Mbugua Ng’ang’a.
“The frequency and style of his appearances suggested a clear strategy; remain visible and relevant,” it said.
By having a stranglehold on a region with five million votes – the base of Ruto’s ascension to power – Gachagua could have the key to the President’s return to State House.
It says Gachagua’s brief stint in national politics germinated from his “cunning ability to connect with grassroot communities and now, in his post-deputy president era, he knows this connection remains his strongest card.
The former DP’s tactics are unorthodox yet effective, the book says, listing show[ing] up unannounced at village events and delivering fiery speeches with a blend of humour, lament and defiance.”
The book, which analyses Gachagua’s fall from grace, stitches together a narrative of betrayal he is using to galvanise his backyard.
Immediately after he was impeached, the former DP’s diary became busy with regular public appearances and utterances that deepened public disaffection of the Kenya Kwanza administration.
“The public appearances serve two purposes; first, they keep him in the public eye, ensuring he is not forgotten in the rapidly shifting political climate, and second, they reinforce his image as a man of the people, one who is willing to wade into the trenches for their sake,” the book says.
This is the same card the former Mathira MP flashed against former President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2022.
In fact, Ruto, then a DP, praised Gachagua’s resonance with the local community, describing him as a leader rooting for the common citizen while facing challenges. “…that very quality of ‘community touch’, once a cornerstone of Gachagua’s appeal, is the platform he is now using to challenge President Ruto’s authority,” the book says.
“The traits President Ruto once admired — resilience, connection to the grassroots and a combative spirit — have seemingly been turned against him.”
“The irony is stark; the qualities that President Ruto once celebrated as strengths in a trusted lieutenant are now the weapons wielded in a battle against his very leadership. It underscores the precarious nature of political loyalty, where yesterday’s ally can morph into today’s adversary, often using the very traits that once united them,” it says.
The book, however, argues that he remains a non-viable presidential opponent to Ruto should he choose to vie in 2027.
Apart from his ongoing litigation in court, the book says, Gachagua’s history in public service remains uninspiring and loaded with controversies and inconsistencies.
For example, his role as DO during the Kanu era in the 90s makes his human rights record a non-starter. His record while in government also leaves a lot to be desired.
This makes him non-viable for the Gen Z who seem to have been shopping for a presidential contender without a dubious record. Given his conduct as DP, Gachagua has already started his half-hearted run for the presidency.
– GORDON OSEN
This article was first published The Star.
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