Of ‘jinxed’ office and Gachagua’s appeal to President to keep promises

In a candid address, Kenya's Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua expressed frustration over what he described as a "jinx" surrounding the Office of the Deputy President.

Reflecting on his tenure, he spoke of a once smooth relationship with President William Ruto, but noted that tensions have emerged during their second year in office, leading to growing concerns about the state of the country's leadership.

The Deputy President began by drawing parallels between his current experience and the struggles faced by President Ruto during his tenure as Deputy President under former President Uhuru Kenyatta.

He commended Dr Ruto for enduring a challenging time, but noted that he was allowed to work for five uninterrupted years, a courtesy he feels has not been extended to him.

"There seems to be a jinx around this office," the Deputy President remarked, citing growing disrespect and interference from Cabinet ministers and other political figures. 

He recalled that President Ruto had once promised the Kenyan people, as well as his own family, that under his presidency, the Deputy President would never face the kind of persecution, disrespect, or harassment that Ruto himself endured.

For the first year, the Deputy President acknowledged that President Ruto had honoured that commitment.

"I’m grateful to him because he did not allow anybody to disrespect me," he said.

However, as their second year in office unfolded, the situation changed.

He pointed to increasing instances of Cabinet ministers publicly insulting him and other government figures attempting to create divisions between him and the President.

“I stood by President Ruto through tough times,” the Deputy President recalled, speaking emotionally about the challenges he faced during the previous administration.

“My wealth was confiscated, and cases were fabricated against me, all because I stood with him.”

The Deputy President stressed that his frustration was not with the President directly, but with those around him who are sowing discord.

He expressed his family's devastation at the current state of affairs, calling it worse than what President Ruto experienced during his time as Deputy President.

"My family is devastated. I never expected this to happen," he said sombrely.

He emphasized that his main desire is to continue serving the people of Kenya and to support President Ruto, as he has always done. 

"I’m here, willing to work for the remaining three(3) years. Let me serve the people of Kenya."

In his closing remarks during Live interview with Citizen TV, the Deputy President issued a heartfelt plea to President Ruto, urging him to honour the promise he made not only to the people of Kenya but also to his own family.

"Please, Mr. President, allow me to work. Keep your promise to stop the insults, and let us work together to serve the people of Kenya."

The address highlighted the growing tensions within the administration and raised questions about the future of the Deputy President’s role.

However, the Deputy President remained optimistic, expressing hope that the situation could be resolved and that the administration could refocus on delivering for the Kenyan people.