Tag: Rigathi Gachagua news

Rigathi Gachagua, the Deputy President (DP), is undeniably a prominent figure among Kenyan leaders who prioritize marriage and family values.

Married to Pastor Dorcas Gachagua, Mr. Gachagua has consistently expressed pride in his family on various occasions. During his tenure as MP for Mathira, he acknowledged his family’s unwavering support during a corruption case that was ultimately dismissed by the court.

Despite facing challenges, he and President William Ruto successfully retained power in 2022. Additionally, the DP is deeply committed to combating illicit brewing and drug abuse, believing that such efforts are crucial for safeguarding families from the associated harms.

During a recent visit to Rwanda to represent President Ruto at the 30th commemoration of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, Gachagua encouraged Kenyan men to consider marrying Rwandan women, praising their beauty.

In a light-hearted manner, he remarked, “Love is sweet, please marry these girls here.” However, he emphasized that children from such unions would remain Kenyan citizens, given their fathers’ nationality, adding, “No problem, but the children are ours. People should marry each other… Is there a problem?”

Gachagua lauded Rwandan women as “beautiful, hardworking, loving, and caring,” suggesting that intermarriage between Kenyans and Rwandans could strengthen diplomatic ties between the two countries.

Referring to President Ruto’s recent announcement of Kenya becoming a visa-free nation, Gachagua encouraged Kenyan men to marry Rwandan women, highlighting government support for such unions. He assured that the government would facilitate the processing of marriage certificates and other necessary documents to streamline the formalization of these unions.

As a father of two sons, Gachagua remains steadfast in his advocacy for marriage and family values, underscoring their importance in society.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua expressed a desire for reconciliation and unity within the Mt. Kenya region, including a possible mending of fences with former President Uhuru Kenyatta. During a speech at a funeral on February 18th, he emphasized the importance of moving forward past differences.

While acknowledging past disagreements with Kenyatta, Gachagua stated,

“He is our son, we had some little disagreements but it’s over and we need to unite as a mountain.” He expressed regret at missing the opportunity to greet Kenyatta at the event, highlighting his respect for the former president’s decision to maintain a low profile.

Open to Collaboration

The Deputy President extended his call for unity beyond Kenyatta, expressing a willingness to collaborate with all political figures from the region, regardless of their party affiliation. He acknowledged the role of the opposition while emphasizing the importance of a unified voice for the Mt. Kenya community.

Gachagua stressed the need to avoid repeating past mistakes, referencing the split vote of the 1990s. He urged leaders to stand together and prioritize the region’s interests.

Unity Over Politics

During the funeral itself, Kenyatta refrained from engaging in political discussions, choosing instead to honor the life of the deceased officer. This separation between personal respect and political differences reflects the complex dynamics within the region.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has reignited tensions with Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration, attributing the recent malfunctions at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) generators to faulty equipment installed by the previous government.

Speaking at the annual Kimalel goat auction in Baringo County, Gachagua defended Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, stating that blaming him for the generator failures was unfair. He labeled the equipment as “fake,” claiming it shuts down whenever activated.

“This Kipchumba is trying hard,” Gachagua declared in Swahili. “People are criticizing him, saying he should resign because of the generators. Did he buy them? It’s the previous government who did that. Now, when they try to power it up, it crashes. So, Kipchumba, buy your own generator and install it, leave theirs alone. Isn’t this young man trying? Stop interfering with leaders for no reason because we found many things were messed up, and now we are trying to fix them.”

Gachagua’s remarks shift the blame for JKIA’s power woes from the current administration to the past, potentially reigniting political tensions. However, he doesn’t stop at criticism. He offered Murkomen two solutions: acquire a new generator to replace the allegedly faulty one, or construct a completely new airport that meets international standards and elevates Kenya’s global image.

This proposal throws the ball back into Murkomen’s court, urging him to take decisive action and move beyond the limitations of the existing infrastructure. It remains to be seen whether Murkomen will pursue Gachagua’s suggestions and tackle the JKIA power issues head-on, and whether this will lead to further developments in Kenya’s airport infrastructure.

The family of the late Coast-based singer Ally B were recently hosted by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua at his official residence in Mombasa. The meeting was held to discuss the education and wellbeing of the late singer’s children, with the government promising to cater for their costs.

CAS Ministry Youth Affairs & Sports Jaguar announced the meeting in a statement on social media, indicating that it was a breakfast meeting. He also mentioned that DP Rigathi was handling matters about financial challenges for the family members.

“Accompanied the family of the Late musician Ally B to the official residence of His Excellency the Deputy President Rigathe Gachagua in Mombasa. H.E. has promised to educate the late legend kids and also support the window open a business to sustain the family,” Jaguar wrote.

The DP was touched by Ally B’s story of his rise to fame and expressed his admiration for the singer’s talent and unwavering support during the election campaigns.

“This morning at the Official Residence in Mombasa, I hosted the family of the late Musician Ali Mwakaribu Ally B, who passed on early this month to comfort and encourage them. Rising from a humble background, Ally B hit the national stage with his electrying music, which defined him as an exceptionally talented individual. He is also remembered for his unwavering support during our election campaigns.“

The DP also offered words of comfort to the grieving family, listening keenly to them as they spoke. He also delivered a special message from President Ruto.

“I also delivered President @WilliamsRuto’s message of comfort as we continue to pray for Ally B’s Soul to Rest in Eternal Peace. We will walk this life’s journey with his young family. The Creative Arts industry is central to the Ruto Administration as we seek to develop potential talent, not only for entertainment and educating, but also as a source of a dignified life for the artists and their families. I was accompanied by a politician and musician @RealJaguarKenya and Hon. Theuri.“

The government’s commitment to supporting the family of Ally B is a testament to the importance of the creative arts industry in Kenya. The Ruto Administration’s focus on developing potential talent will undoubtedly benefit future generations of artists.

Deputy President Rigathi  Gachagua is disenchanted with Azimio leader Raila Odinga’s protests that are set to continue in the coming week.

According to Rigathi, the protests are doing more worse than good. Rigathi had previously urged Azimio leader Raila Odinga to call off protests, saying that the mayhem is bad for the economy and that Kenyans need to go back to work.

“I am urging the Azimio leadership to call off the mayhem and chaos so that Kenyans can go back to work,” the deputy president said in Mombasa where he oversaw the flagship food donation from Ukraine.

The DP further urged protestors to avoid damaging property during their demonstrations or else face dire consequences.

”In the meantime, Kenyans should ignore being incited into violence and destruction of properties. As it is, a number of businesspeople did not open shops due to fear of looters threatening businesses. So far, the country has lost billion today from these protests across the country,” he said.

He has now reiterated his message amid the upcoming protests set on Tuesday next week.

For years, Kenyans have complained about Chinese nationals doing jobs that could be done by locals. Chinese companies have equally been winning tenders for assignments that could be do done by local companies.

Rigathi Gachagua is now seeking to introduce a Bill that will restrict Chinese firms and other foreign companies from getting contracts or tenders worth less than Kes 1 billion.

Gachagua seeks to protect local companies from foreign competition by ensuring that all contracts valued at less than a billion Kenya shillings be strictly awarded to Kenyans.

Money circulation

Speaking in his Mathira Constituency, Nyeri County, on Tuesday October 23rd, Gachagua said shortage of money circulating within Kenya was as a result of tenders being awarded to foreigners.

“We have what I would call the Chinese economic invasion to the Republic of Kenya. These people came here and are slowly kicking out the owner of the house economically. The Chinese after getting contracts in Kenya. They then buy everything used in construction from China. As lawmakers, we cannot allow the Chinese invasion to impoverish our people. This cannot be allowed to happen,”  Gachagua protested while giving his speech.