Ashok Sunny, the official tailor of President William Ruto, has expressed concerns about Deputy President (DP) Rigathi Gachagua’s fashion sense.
This is after the DP stepped out in a floral shirt, jeans, and black casual shoes when meeting King Charles III and Queen Camilla for the first time. According to Sunny, DP’s handlers handlers are or prioritizing his public appearance.
“Only the President has people behind what he thinks he wants to present as a brand. For the deputy president, they don’t value much how he should look and dress up in public,” said Sunny during an interview on TV 47.
“This is basically what every Kenyan man wears; the floral shirt, jeans, and sneakers. If you walk into a shop as a man, that’s the first thing the sales lady will offer you,” HE SAID.
Sunny believes that DP Gachagua, as a national figure and a potential future president, should work on developing a more distinctive sense of style. He contrasted this with President Ruto’s approach when he was the Deputy President, emphasizing his attention to how a president should present himself.
Sunny also shared insights about Ruto’s preferred style, mentioning that he leans towards Italian-cut suits that are more fitted and flared, often featuring cuffs at the bottom.
Ruto’s adoption of the Kaunda suit, a distinctive and iconic style, was also highlighted. Sunny explained that Ruto’s choice to wear the Kaunda suit on numerous occasions is part of his effort to create a personal style and brand as he envisions his role as a president.
Sunny emphasized that Ruto is very intentional about his sense of style and how he wishes to be remembered as a president, considering aspects ranging from clothing to leadership.
The DP was heavily criticized during the campaigns about his fashion choices.
“People have raised questions about how I dress, but I want to tell them that I had no luxury to think about dressing. I was caring about my life, staying safe. But now that it is all over, in another three months, people will like what they see,” he defended himself.
“We did not have time to go and buy new clothes to cope with the extra weight. We were targeted …the first instinct was to stay safe. I needed to be alive,” he said.
