Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua addressed his recent extended absence from the public scene during the funeral of his former teacher, Julius Kano, in Kirinyaga County. Gachagua revealed that he had taken seven days off to pray and fast in the Mount Kenya Forest, during which he cut off all communication.
He explained that this period was a deliberate and intentional break for meditation and reflection on the State of the Nation and the well-being of the people of the Mount Kenya region.
“When Mwalimu passed on, I had taken seven days away for prayers and fasting, meditation and reflection at the heart of Mount Kenya Forest, with no phone, no nothing, and nobody could disturb me as I wanted to meditate on the State of the Nation and the people of this region,” stated Gachagua. He noted that he only came out of this hibernation after his wife informed him of his former teacher’s passing.
During his remarks, Gachagua emphasized his commitment to the unity of the Mount Kenya region, asserting his role as the senior-most politician in the area to unite the people. “I am not that wise, but I am also not stupid. There is something I know, and that is why as the senior-most politician in the region, I made the decision to unite the people of Kenya,” he said.
Gachagua’s comments follow media speculation about a potential rift within the Kenya Kwanza alliance and tensions between him and President William Ruto. Reports suggested that Gachagua had been unreachable via his cell phone, fueling rumors of discord. However, State House spokesperson Hussein Mohammed clarified that there was no bad blood between the two leaders.
Additionally, Gachagua had mentioned previously that he had retreated to his home in Nyeri for a week to inspect projects he had initiated in his home county, further clarifying the reasons behind his public absence.
