By Anderson Ojwang
Kenya’s self-confessed truthful man, the impeached Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, could be fast waking up to the reality and dawn of truth exposing him to the public court.
Rigathi could quickly be sobering to the truth as the ground turns slippery. His words, statements, and public pronouncements of supposed “truth” have returned to haunt him, as he struggles to stabilize his political boat facing heavy storms from capsizing.
Today, the truthful man is on the cross.
The phrase ‘Truthful man’ emerged and became popular when Rigathi appeared for the Deputy Presidential debate in July 2022.
“I am a truthful man, I don’t take alcohol, I wake early to attend meetings,” he said while introducing himself during the debate.
That became his brand and forte, which made a journalist ask him during a recent joint television interview “To some they say you appear to be always in a combative mode. Some say at any opportunity with the microphone you lecture Kenyans. Is the truthful man a bitter person?”
Rigathi responded by saying “What people mistake with bitterness is the truth. I speak my heart. I say what is in my heart. I am a truthful man. I am honest man. Kenyans are not used to honesty and many people have a problem with that,”
During the impeachment motion both at the National Assembly and the Senate, the truthful man found himself accused of “truth’ which became part of the charges pressed against him.
Rigathi displayed hard tackles on former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, immediate former President Uhuru Kenyatta, and the alleged non-shareholders in the Kenya Kwanza government.
“If Raila wants dialogue, two things, let him come to the president and seek appointment from the controller of State House, He will find me seated there with a notebook. The only agenda to discuss with Raila Odinga is only one, and to discuss his exit from Kenya’s politics and permanent retirement from this country,” Rigathi said.
But Raila replied saying “Riggy there is no harm in people dialoguing. Allow people to have a dialogue. Even if you don’t want to hear my view, just listen,”.
Also, in a quick response Rigathi said “Former Prime Minister, my brother, we don’t reject greetings. We fear you, when you came and befriended our son our Uhuru Kenyatta, he was a good man, he loved us and worked for us. But he changed because of you,”.
However, the first taste of truth dawned on Rigathi when he revealed that he had been removed from the State House WhatsApp group containing President Ruto’s official schedule highlighting the changing moments.
When he recently, spoke in an exclusive interview on Citizen TV. Rigathi said, “I no longer know the president’s schedule. My team and I were removed from that WhatsApp group by the president’s Private Secretary, Mr. Maiyo. It’s very petty,”.
Interestingly, Raila has become a regular visitor to the State House and has made several international and local trips with President Ruto. Truthful moment.
During the post-election demonstrations, Rigathi explained to the opposition leaders the reason for the withdrawal of police. “My brother, I am sorry about that little discomfort that your guards were taken away. I do take this opportunity to explain to you why, it is important that I do so that you understand. Chaos and mayhem that was in Nairobi that Wednesday, for five hours, almost burning the country and brought the country to a standstill, then they announced, they had three days of madness, and we had to get prepared. We needed every police officer available for that work. Because the ones we had were not sufficient. The very logical decision by Kindiki and IG Koome to first get those ones guarding those engaged in the demonstrations to come and protect Kenyans. Where did you want us to get the policemen from? We had to get them somewhere. And you start with those people who were arranging the demonstrations. that is what we did,”
But after his impeachment and discharge from the hospital, truth visited him “ I want to tell people of Kennya I don’t feel safe and that President Ruto will be held responsible for my safety”.
Currently, Rigathi’s private home is being guarded by private security guards, a truthful moment.
During the protest after the 2022 elections, Rigathi also claimed that one of the opposition leaders admitted himself to the hospital.
“When they realized that the government was resolved to crack down on demonstrations, one person admitted himself to Nairobi hospital and asked doctors to put him on a drip, while others chose to stay in their homes,” Rigathai said.
Ironically, during the Impeachment motion in the Senate, Rigathi also got admitted to Karen Hospital before he could be cross-examined by the senators but the Senate went ahead to uphold his impeachment by the assembly.
Rigathi said he had retreated to Harambee Annex for Lunch with his team when he fell ill.
“After lunch, we looked at possible areas of cross-examination then my team left for the Senate. I went to my office and then suddenly I developed a very intense pain in the chest. As I was speaking with my doctor, I started to experience shortness of breath and Dr Gikonyo instructed me to drop everything I was doing and get to Karen as quickly as possible,” he said.
After the 2022 presidential victory, Rigathi took the gospel of shareholding in the government and often reminded those who never supported them in the last elections that the KK government was like a company owned through shares.
“This government is a company that has shares. Some owners have the majority of shares, and those with just a few, while others do not have any. You invested in this government and you must reap. You sowed, tilled, put manure, and irrigated, and now it is time to reap,” Rigathi said at a function in Kericho county.
But Rigathi later apologized saying “If our brothers from regions that didn’t support the President and myself in the same way that Rift Valley and Mt. Kenya did felt uncomfortable with our expressions of appreciation, I ask for your forgiveness.
“We didn’t mean any harm. If we offended you in the process, please find it in your heart to forgive me,”
Rigathi has maintained he was in the government to stay and nobody could edge him out of the regime.
“I fought for this government. I am inside the government. There is no way I can move an inch. Those the president has brought they are welcome, Even if there was an attempt and there is none, it cannot work” he said.
Currently, Rigathi is fighting for his political survival in the Court after he was impeached and has a date with the Director of Criminal Investigation over remarks he made after his discharge from the hospital.
The ghosts of truth have finally built their apartments in Rigathi’s stead and he has to contend with the unfolding political moment. Will truth save him?
