DP. Rigathi Gachagua seen moments before boarding a commercial flight to Mombasa on June 12, 2024. PHOTO | Courtesy
In Summary:
- Deputy President Gachagua faces backlash after photos of him boarding a commercial flight while carrying his luggage went viral on social media.
- Several leaders, including Ichung’wah and Sudi, criticize the move, labeling it a publicity stunt.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua became a target for political criticism on Tuesday evening after photos of him boarding a commercial Kenya Airways flight with his suitcase went viral online.
The Deputy President was en route to the International Scientific Conference in Mombasa, but the move has been widely perceived as a needless publicity stunt.
Several leaders quickly took to social media to express their disapproval, albeit in veiled terms, accusing Gachagua of seeking unnecessary attention.
National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah commented on X, stating, “Neither President @WilliamsRuto nor the Government of Kenya or Members of Parliament will succumb to blackmail.”
He continued, “No amount of sympathy-seeking photos, vernacular stations campaigns, or social media blogging will hand over billions to satisfy anyone’s insatiable greed for power and money.”
Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi also criticized Gachagua, suggesting that seeking advice from former Nyeri MP Ngunjiri Wambugu, known for his association with Gachagua, was misguided.
“If you find yourself depending on @ngunjiriwambugu as your advisor, then just know you are doomed. It is better to be advised by a class 2 child,” Sudi wrote on X.
Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa joined in, highlighting that President William Ruto has frequently traveled on commercial flights without seeking public attention.
“Huyu a first commercial flight paid for by taxpayers and escorted in new high-end land cruisers to the airside, is craving for sympathy. Bure kabisa! NO BLACKMAIL,” Barasa wrote on X.
This political controversy arises amidst speculations of a rift between President Ruto and Deputy President Gachagua, with many suggesting that Gachagua’s influence within the ruling party and his popularity in the Mt. Kenya region are waning.
Gachagua has also faced criticism for his divisive remarks on tribal politics, which have exacerbated tensions in the ongoing Mt. Kenya supremacy battles.
President Ruto has previously instructed leaders to avoid engaging in tribal politics.
Nationwide, leaders have condemned Gachagua’s actions, warning that fueling political rifts based on ethnicity could have serious consequences for the country’s democratic progress.