Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has announced that he will unveil his much-anticipated political direction on Sunday, February 9, 2025. Gachagua, who had promised to consult Kenyans before making a decision, explained on February 2 that the delay in his report was due to the overwhelming volume of feedback he received from citizens across the country.
“I had promised to collect the opinions of the people and provide political direction by January 31st. However, I ask for forgiveness for the delay as the volume of feedback has been overwhelming,” Gachagua said.
Initially expecting to hear mostly from the Mt. Kenya region, Gachagua was surprised to receive responses from all corners of Kenya, which extended the consultation process. He acknowledged the continued feedback collection, saying, “We collected feedback from everyone, and I am still continuing the process.”
To ensure transparency, Gachagua revealed plans to go live on all radio stations to share the feedback and advice he has gathered from the public. “On February 9, I will present an interim report of the opinions gathered so far,” he confirmed. His approach, he noted, would be cautious to avoid the mistakes made in 2022.
Reflecting on his past political decisions, Gachagua admitted that his initial alliance with President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza coalition was based on faith and prayers rather than formal agreements. “We joined the government without a formal agreement, relying solely on faith and shared Christian values,” he explained. He emphasized his current caution, stating, “We cannot afford to repeat those mistakes.”
One of Gachagua’s key concerns is the state of the current administration. He criticized what he described as widespread dishonesty within President Ruto’s government, and highlighted the economic difficulties facing Kenyans, particularly the heavy deductions from employees’ pay slips.
Gachagua vowed that his future administration would focus on “rescuing the pay slip” by eliminating deductions such as the housing levy, allowing Kenyans the freedom to build their own homes. “Our first priority in the new administration we are building will be to rescue the pay slip, restore its dignity, and, in turn, restore the dignity of its holder,” he declared.