Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has called out President William Ruto over his decision to attend Pope Francis' funeral, despite having already sent National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula as Kenya’s official representative.
Speaking in an interview on Sunday, April 27, Gachagua criticized Ruto’s actions as wasteful and indicative of a mistrust of those around him.
"President William Ruto sent Speaker Moses Wetang'ula to represent him at Pope Francis' funeral, but he (Ruto) was not satisfied; he ended up attending the funeral as well. That is the kind of president we have; he does not trust anyone to do anything," he said.
Gachagua went on to question the unnecessary spending of public funds on Wetang’ula’s trip, only for Ruto to fly to Rome himself.
"Wetang'ula spent taxpayers' money to travel to Rome, yet Ruto flew from China to Rome as well. What was the need of using taxpayers' money to send Wetang'ula to attend the funeral when Ruto was also going to attend? But that is Ruto, he does not trust anyone; he wants to do everything," he added.
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Saboti MP Caleb Amisi is among the leaders who also criticized Ruto over his decision to attend the Pope’s funeral.
In an update via his X account on Saturday, April 26, the MP wondered why the President followed Wetang’ula to the event.
Amisi noted that the decision by Ruto made it look like he had travelled to the Vatican to observe how he was being represented by the National Assembly Speaker.
“The president designated the Speaker of the National Assembly to represent him in the Vatican for the Pope's funeral, which is perfectly in order, and then the president himself follows him to the Vatican to, among other things, say hi to Wetang’ula and watch how he is being represented,” he stated.
While speaking at the Apostolic Nunciature in Nairobi on Thursday, April 24, Wetang’ula confirmed that he had been nominated by Ruto to attend the high-profile event.
"President William Ruto is out in China; he has nominated and instructed me to represent him at the burial of the Pope on Saturday. I'll be leaving tonight for Rome to go and join other world leaders in sending off our Pope," he said.
However, come Saturday, Ruto put up an update saying he had landed in Rome to join other leaders in sending off the Pope.
"Arrived in Rome, Italy, to join other world leaders and Catholic faithful in the funeral of Pope Francis," he wrote on X.
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