Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has raised eyebrows after revealing that he was unaware of President William Ruto’s trip to the USA on Friday 20th. In an interview with Citizen TV’s Sam Gituku, Gachagua claimed he was left in the dark about the President’s trip to attend the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. This, he says, is despite being the senior-most assistant to President Ruto.
The explosive interview exposed a gap in communication between the Deputy President and his boss, further fueling speculation of a rift in Kenya’s top leadership. Gachagua openly admitted that he had not been briefed on the President’s travel plans, stating that he only received information from third-party sources. This came as a surprise, given that Gachagua has often been present during President Ruto’s previous international departures and returns.
“I am told he is leaving the country but I am not aware of the time, so I have not been informed as of this evening,” Gachagua said, adding that the president had not talked to him on Friday.
DP Gachagua says he’s secluded
Rigathi Gachagua went on to discuss how he has been sidelined on several key national matters, including the government’s proposed deal with Indian conglomerate Adani Group to lease Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) for 30 years.
“I am not privy to the arrangement because it is not in my docket, I have not been assigned to deal with it, so it has not come to my attention officially,” Gachagua admitted. “I do not have the details, I’ll not be able to say what the details are; is it a good deal for the country, or is it a bad deal? If those details are put before me, I’ll be able to apply my mind and give an opinion, but as it is, I am just hearing them like the rest of you,” he said.
Gachagua further disclosed that himself and his team had been removed from a State House WhatsApp group where the President’s itinerary is shared, leaving them in the dark about Ruto’s activities and engagements.
“About a week ago, we were removed from that diary so we were not able to follow what was going on, and so we cannot align. When I am aware of where the President is, I am always there. When I am not aware, there is nothing I can do about it,” Gachagua lamented, pinpointing Ruto’s private secretary Reuben Miayo as the individual responsible for his WhatsApp group ouster.
“It is a WhatsApp Group and it’s updated as we go on and we keep on aligning. I was removed, my private secretary and Chief of Staff were removed. And so we have no access to the diary,” he said.
