Former Deputy President and Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua has disclosed that his unwavering support for Gen Z was the very reason he was removed from office.
Speaking during a candid conversation on Friday night, June 27, 2025, Gachagua stated that his alignment with the youth’s cause, particularly during the 2024 anti-Finance Bill protests, resulted in a fallout with President William Ruto and his eventual impeachment.
“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 disclosed.
Gachagua emphasised that his support for Gen Z was not about leading or funding their protests but about standing in solidarity with their quest 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.
Solidarity
Gachagua also reaffirmed his solidarity with the youth, condemning extrajudicial killings and abductions.
“I am in support of their cause that we should not have abduction; we should not have extrajudicial killings. But I had no business going to join them on the street because that is their thing,” Gachagua said.
Gachagua on Gen Z
This comes days after the second deputy president said that the young generation would determine the next leadership in the country.
Speaking during a section of youth in a TikTok live session on Thursday, January 23, 2025, he expressed admiration for their efforts, saying he was optimistic about their ability to bring the country back on track.
“It is the Gen Z and millennials who will determine the next leadership of this country,” Gachagua said.
“Let me tell my children, the Gen Zs, I love you so much, and you have the capacity to bring transformative change to this country. But I want to plead with you that what you are doing in the online space is not enough. You have a date with destiny. It is our young people who will create the right leadership in this country.”
Gachagua then reminded Gen Zs that the nation’s destiny rested in their hands and cautioned them against taking this responsibility lightly.
“In terms of social media, it is a revolution. You know, long ago, when we only had KBC, the government could censor news and control what people knew. Today, even if you bribe the mainstream media not to air what Rigathi Gachagua has said, social media will still broadcast it. By the time we get to the evening news, people on social media will already know what has happened.”
