Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has broken his silence on his long-standing relationship with former President Uhuru Kenyatta, detailing his early political journey with the retired head of state while dismissing claims of any lingering tension between them.
Speaking during an interview on KTN News on October 5, Gachagua reflected on his years working alongside Uhuru in the early 2000s, when he served as his personal assistant.
He described that period as formative and politically strategic, laying the groundwork for Uhuru’s eventual rise to power.
“I worked for President Uhuru Kenyatta from 2001 to 2006 as his personal assistant in charge of politics and mobilization, and we had a very good time,” Gachagua said.
“The journey we started with him was strategic even his 2002 presidential bid was meant to anchor him for better things later.”
Gachagua recalled that after Uhuru’s defeat in the 2002 election, they remained close allies in opposition, consulting frequently with their supporters before deciding to back President Mwai Kibaki in 2006, a move he said “paid off,” leading to Uhuru’s appointment as Deputy Prime Minister and, later, his ten-year presidency under the Jubilee Party.
Why He Left Uhuru
Gachagua described his time working under Uhuru Kenyatta as productive and fulfilling, noting that their partnership was built on mutual respect and shared goals.
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“We worked very well. He was a good boss to work for self-driven, hardworking, and a good listener, and we worked hard, and it paid off,” Gachagua said.
He explained that their political paths eventually diverged after their initial mission was accomplished. Gachagua said he decided to chart his own political course once the agreement he had with Uhuru reached its natural end.
According to him, their understanding from the start was clear: to help Uhuru ascend to the presidency, after which each would pursue separate ambitions.
“We had wanted him to be president for 10 years, and he was president for 10 years. It was time to move on and explore other political ventures,” Gachagua said.
“When we joined hands in 2001, we had an agreement that he wanted me to assist him to be president of Kenya. I did, and he became president. When he was serving his second term, the contract was over, and he was proceeding on retirement. I had to move on and pursue my ambition elsewhere.”
Gachagua’s Current Relationship with Uhuru
The Deputy President dismissed ongoing speculation that Uhuru could be standing in the way of his future political ambitions, calling such claims “a diversion.”
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“From where I sit, President Uhuru Kenyatta is retired and enjoying his retirement. He cannot be president again,” Gachagua said.
“Rigathi Gachagua wants to be president of Kenya. Hence, there can be no conflict whatsoever between Rigathi Gachagua and President Uhuru Kenyatta.”
He explained that there is no political confrontation between the two, pointing out that their roles are distinctly different.
“How would he threaten my bid for president unless he is opposing me? Constitutionally, he has done his two terms,” he said. “We have two leaders here, one is the past, the other one is the present and the future. What conflict would there be?”
Gachagua’s remarks come amid tension of Jubilee fronting their own presidential candidate.
The former Deputy President, who has positioned himself as a champion of the Mount Kenya region, has increasingly sought to reconnect with Jubilee supporters who once rallied behind Uhuru.
On the other hand, the Jubilee Party appears to be grooming former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i to be its presidential flag-bearer.
Matiang’i accompanied Kenyatta during the Jubilee Special National Delegates Conference, which ratified several changes.
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