Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s recent remarks claiming he lost his job because he supported Gen Z have drawn sharp criticism, especially from Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma.
In a post on X on Saturday, June 28, 2025, Kaluma wrote:
“Impeached! And yet he is in court asking to be returned as DP of President Ruto!”
His comment comes as Gachagua continues his legal battle to overturn his impeachment and return to office.
Speaking during a candid interview on Friday, 27 June 2025, Gachagua said his public support for Gen Z during the anti-Finance Bill protests led to a fallout with President William Ruto.
“I sacrificed my job as Deputy President, a very good job with security, and I said I want to stand with these children, and I attracted the wrath of William Ruto for standing with these young people,” Gachagua said.
His stand with Gen Z
Now leading the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), Gachagua stressed that he never funded or led the protests but supported the youth’s calls for justice and accountability.
“I do not want to force myself on Gen Z all the time. I have been accused of funding them, but all I have done is to stand, and I will continue standing with them,” he added.
He also condemned abductions and extrajudicial killings linked to the protests, saying such actions have no place in a democratic country.
Gachagua has frequently praised Gen Z and millennials, calling them the future leaders of Kenya. During a TikTok live session on 23 January 2025, he said:
“It is the Gen Z and millennials who will determine the next leadership of this country.”
He urged the youth to go beyond social media activism and take real action, reminding them that their digital influence can’t be silenced.
“Even if you bribe the mainstream media not to air what Rigathi Gachagua has said, social media will still broadcast it,” he said.
Kenneth Mwenda
Kenneth Mwenda is a digital writer with over five years of experience. He graduated in February 2022 with a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance from The Co-operative University of Kenya. He has written news and feature stories for platforms such as Construction Review Online, Sports Brief, Briefly News, and Criptonizando. In 2023, he completed a course in Digital Investigation Techniques with AFP. He joined K24 Digital in May 2025. For inquiries, he can be reached at [email protected].
