Editor's Review

The deputy president revealed that he only shows up at events he has been invited to.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has sought to free himself from accusations of being a no-show in most of President William Ruto's events. 

While appearing in an interview with a local media outlet on Friday evening, September 20, Gachagua revealed that the president's handlers were sidelining him.

He explained that he was removed from a WhatsApp group where the president's diary would be posted.

According to him, him being ejected from the said forum made it difficult for him to align his diary with that of Ruto.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in a past function.

With the foregoing, he mostly fails to attend the events officiated by the president, given that he does not know where to be at what time due to the logistical challenges.

"If Kenyans don't see me in any presidential function today, I want to tell them that it is because I am not aware of the function. The function they see me in is the one that I've been invited to. There is a page with everybody there. So once his activities are known, everybody aligns automatically, and there has been a lot of efficiency. When you don't have that information, then it becomes extremely difficult for my office to align with the president's office," he revealed.

He drew an example from the investiture ceremony of Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, which was held at State House, Nairobi.

Gachagua said he realised the function would be underway long after he had landed on the coast for the funeral service of deceased Lamu deputy governor Raphael Munyua Ndung'u.

The deputy president said he would engage the president on the matter, perhaps seeking his return to the group to keep up with the president's schedule.

His lamentations brought to the fore the salty relations the two have within the presidency.

Gachagua also lamented the humiliation he receives from Cabinet Secretaries and other junior staffers at the State House.

He blamed the president for being mum as he faced trouble at the hands of his (Ruto's) handlers.

"The deputy president is abused by people in his car, and some Cabinet Secretaries and the president is quiet," lamented Gachagua.