Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has broken his long silence in a wide-ranging sit-down with Citizen TV offering candid reflections on his turbulent years in power, political betrayals, and the state of Kenya’s democracy.
In the rare interview, Gachagua spoke with unusual frankness, insisting that history would judge him “fairly and differently” from the political opponents who painted him as a divisive figure.
“Power is temporary. What matters is whether you used your time to protect the people who entrusted you with it,” Gachagua told CTV. “I may have been misunderstood, I may have been betrayed — but I survived.”
Politics of Betrayal and Loyalty
Asked about the bitter fallout that defined his administration, Gachagua accused some of his closest allies of abandoning him once the tide shifted. Without naming names, he suggested that Kenyan politics was “a theatre of betrayal.”
“Those who cheered you yesterday will be the first to cast stones tomorrow. That is the reality of politics in our country,” he remarked.
Yet, he maintained he had no regrets, claiming his leadership style was anchored on loyalty to his political base and firm defense of devolution.
Turning to the present, Gachagua offered a sobering assessment of Kenya’s governance. He criticised rising public debt, warning that future administrations must learn to “live within their means.”
“We cannot continue to mortgage the future of young people. The debt is unsustainable, and unless it is confronted honestly, Kenya will pay a heavy price,” he said.
Still, he expressed optimism that Kenya’s democracy had matured, arguing that political transitions — however bruising — had strengthened institutions.
Addressing his combative reputation, Gachagua dismissed social media attacks that once branded him incompetent and out of touch.
“I was called names, trolled daily, insulted without restraint. But leadership is not about being liked, it is about doing what is right,” he said.
Whether history will remember Rigathi Gachagua as a reformer or as a polarising leader remains contested. But his latest remarks suggest a man determined to rewrite his own narrative.
“I am no saint. But I defended my people, I defended my office, and I will never apologise for that,” he told Citizen TV.
Here are some reactions from X.” Rigathi Gachagua might become the president of Kenya before Conman Raila Odinga. Riggy G has an upright conscience, and I believe everything he is saying! Yvonne Okwara has done Kenyans justice for bringing the Truthful man live!.
