- Former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua revealed that he would switch off his phone to avoid orders from President William Ruto during Cabinet meetings
- Gachagua said Ruto relied on allies from his community to send him short direct messages and influence ongoing discussions
- He recounted coordinating with former Attorney General Justin Muturi to keep their discussions free from the president’s interference
- Gachagua also claimed that he had opposed the 2024 Finance Bill, warning that it would cause public anger before the Gen Z protests began
Former vice president Rigathi Gachagua has revealed surprising facts about his time in government.
Source: Facebook
Gachagua claimed he would deliberately put his phone away to avoid orders from the President William Ruto during cabinet committee discussions.
How did Gachagua avoid Ruto’s orders?
The revelation came during the launch of former Attorney General Justin Muturi’s book on Friday, November 7, an event attended by prominent opposition figures, including the leader of the Wiper Patriotic Front Kalonzo MusyokaEugene Wamalwa of DAP-K, and former interior minister Fred Matiang’i of Jubilee.
Gachagua described the speaker of the National Assembly as “his soulmate in the Cabinet,” praising his integrity and fearlessness.
He explained that when he was in cabinet committees, Ruto relied on associates from his community to send updates through text messages.
The leader of the Democratic Party for the People (DCP) claimed that Ruto would monitor their discussions, especially if the discussions were not progressing in the direction he preferred.
“He was my soulmate in the Cabinet because he was just an honest person who is fearless. One day, when they were in the Cabinet committees, the president had given the people of his tribe the task of informing him about the discussions in the Cabinet committee by text message. So if the direction taken is not going as he wants, especially in matters that conflict, he would send you a text message and tell you how to handle the conversation,” Gachagua demanded.
He recounted that he and Muturi often cooperated to ensure independence in decision-making during meetings.
Gachagua claimed that they agreed to put their phones away during such meetings, adding that by the time the head of state reached them, the discussion was over.
“So JB looked for me and we agreed on what to do. He himself and I, we will leave our phones away so that Ruto cannot reach us. By the time he is told what he wants, it is not going the right way we have gone through,” Gachagua revealed, eliciting laughter.
How did Gachagua defend his position on the 2024 Finance Bill?
He went on to give an example from his leadership, recounting his opposition to the controversial Finance Bill 2024 that led to protest of Gen Z.
Source: Facebook
The former Deputy President said he stood firm and asked Cabinet Secretary Mercy Wanjau to write down his objections for future generations.
Despite the pressure, he maintained his position and later tried to retract the matter after being pressured by the youth in June 2024.
“So when it failed, we went to the Cabinet. I wanted to refer to the matter. He refused. I said, boss, we can go back to what I said after General Z created a problem,” he added.
Did Gachagua claim 50% in the government?
Earlier, Gachagua denied claims that he negotiated to claim half of the next government if the opposition wins in 2027.
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He told the DCP Youth League in Nairobi that the reports were “government-sponsored propaganda” aimed at discouraging his supporters.
Gachagua emphasized that he remains in the front line for the presidency and has the support of ordinary people.
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