By Anderson Ojwang
The impeached Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua could have walked into a different terrain and uncharted waters in the United States of America (USA) and now he has been forced to cut short his two-month tour after only three weeks of visit.
Could the former Deputy President have chewed more than he bargained for and is waking up to the reality that he could be a toddler in geopolitics and international diplomacy. Exit Gachagua, enters President William Ruto.
Interestingly, before Gachagua announced on his social media handle X that he would cut short his tour of the US, President Ruto met with USA Ambassador to Kenya Carla Benini, where they committed to a close working relationship.
But Gachagua had come under a barrage of attacks for promoting tribalism during his tour and was viewed to be on a mission to divide Kenyans living abroad along ethnic lines.
In a statement on Thursday, Gachagua described his three-week stay in the US as “very successful and fulfilling,” citing “serious engagements” with Kenyans in the diaspora.
He wrote on his X handle “I regret being unable to visit the remaining states on my itinerary as I need to return home to join our party in preparing for the upcoming by-elections in various parts of the country,” he said.
Gachagua apologised to Kenyans he was unable to meet, noting that the engagements had been rescheduled to early next year. He added that he would take a few days to rest before heading back and would make his travel itinerary public.
“I thank the Kenyans in the States for the love, warmth, and hospitality they accorded us. I salute the organisers and officials of the DCP chapters for superb planning, organisation, and meticulous coordination. You are simply the best,” he said.
On his arrival in the USA he wrote “Accompanied by my beloved spouse, Pastor Dorcas Rigathi, I arrived at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in Washington to kick off my diaspora engagement with Kenyans in the USA and the international community on issues affecting our beloved country. I was warmly welcomed by jubilant Kenyans here, and I am truly excited. The love and support are unmatched. God bless Kenya!” Gachagua said after the rousing welcome.
And before he left he said “Tonight, I will be travelling to the U.S. to talk to Kenyans in the diaspora and the international community about the state of the nation. I would have wanted to stay in the country at this very difficult time when our people are under siege, but I have engagements that I’m not able to postpone. I have been threatened by people close to (President) William Ruto, who called some of my people today that they will want to stop me from leaving the country,” he said.
“If you want to come and arrest me at the airport as you are threatening us, you can go ahead, I don’t have a problem. As I am out of the country, if I’m not stopped from going, we have made sufficient arrangements with other leaders in the United Opposition to create a pool of lawyers to come in for our young people who are being prosecuted for trumped-up charges.”
Recently, the Ambassador assured Ruto that Kenya remains central in its US-Africa policy.
‘Kenya remains central to US-Africa policy and when we do something in Africa, we do it in Kenya first. There is a reason for that because of our shared interests in alignment, governance, rule of law and democracy.
This visit in particular is really exciting because when we look at Kenya, its leadership in AI, agriculture and green energy to California interest in smart agriculture, energy generation, the embassy will continue to lead on that front in encouraging US investments in the country,” she said.
Ruto said “Your coming here is a great expression of friendship. It is a moment for us, to take our engagements to a whole new level. I am very happy that this morning you have engaged with the colleagues from different sectors in our country.
We appreciate that you have chosen Kenya to be your footprint around our continent and I promise you in front of these good people here, my colleagues from Kenya that we are ready and willing to partner and to see what we can do together in a mutually beneficial engagement between our two countries,” he said.
On Saturday, Ruto announced that he will visit the United States in September to meet with organisers of the Grammy Awards, aiming to establish world-class music studios in Kenya.
Speaking during the 97th Kenya Music Festival State Concert in Sagana, the President indicated that he will be travelling to New York for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), whereby he will visit the Grammy Awards Studios to discuss with them the need to establish a studio in Kenya.
“During my visit to New York for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), I will meet leaders of major global technology companies to expand collaboration for the benefit of our creators. This includes integrating M-PESA into Facebook’s payment system to make our payouts faster, easier, and more accessible.
The Grammy team has already expressed interest in anchoring their presence within our new Talanta Hela Stadium in Nairobi.
Next month in the United States, I will meet with the Recording Academy, organisers of the Grammy Awards, to fast-track plans for establishing world-class studios here in Kenya and to set in motion the journey towards eventually hosting an African edition of the Grammy Awards in Nairobi.”
Prime Cabinet Secretary, Dr Musalia Mudavadi, accused Gachagua of speaking recklessly during his trip to the United States, terming his speeches unpatriotic.
Mudavadi said the former DP was a bitter person who had spent his entire time on his US tour planting tribalism abroad.
“Look at a scenario where Rigathi Gachagua, who has gotten to the level of Deputy President, goes abroad and champions tribalism until the people in the Diaspora tell him to shun away from it. As Kenyans, our goal is to preach peace across our region,” said Mudavadi.
Mudavadi questioned the DP’s call for the US government to investigate Kenya, accusing him of misleading the diaspora.
“If indeed Rigathi is a patriot, why is he saying he wants the government of the USA to investigate the government of Kenya? Is it that Rigathi is a police officer in the USA? You are a Kenyan, be patriotic, work for your people, speak for your people, and defend your country. That is what true patriotism calls for,” he said.
“They have both had large followings. They have now joined forces and decided to work together in the broad-based government. We also need to work together. Just as our leaders have resolved to walk together, we as the electorate need to also walk together and move forward,” he said.
He urged Busia residents to embrace the political unity symbolised by the broad-based government, noting that ODM had been the most popular party in the region, but its leader was now working alongside the President.
“We are united so that we can deliver for the people of Kenya. We need to steer away from divisive politics. Let us be nationals,” he said.
