Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua made an emotional revelation during the burial of his maternal aunt, Gladys Gathoni Kahua, in Nyeri on July 5, 2025.
In a candid speech that captured both sorrow and regret, Gachagua admitted that the late Gathoni had warned him about President William Ruto long before their political fallout, but he chose not to listen.
“This granny, if I had listened to her, we would not be in the current problem,” Gachagua said, speaking to a crowd that included opposition leaders Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka, Cleophas Malala, and Martha Karua.
“I used to visit her often because she gave me a lot of advice.”
He recounted a moment when his aunt called him aside and expressed concern over his close ties with Ruto.
“She told me that the person I was walking around with, Ruto, is not a good person. She warned me to be careful,” he said. “But I told her that he had changed.”
Despite her persistent warnings, Gachagua said he ignored her advice.
“She told me to leave him alone, but I refused. She added that this person is going to mess me and even my children. I disputed her.”
Gachagua’s regret signals rift
Gathoni passed away on June 28, 2025. While the moment was deeply personal, Gachagua’s words carried a political undertone. His public regret over ignoring his aunt’s advice appeared to confirm his break with President Ruto, whom he had staunchly supported during the 2022 elections and the early years of the administration.
The rift between former Kenyan Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and President William Ruto culminated in Gachagua’s historic impeachment in October 2024. It was driven by accusations of corruption, insubordination, and ethnic divisiveness, and Ruto’s alliance with opposition leader Raila Odinga.
Kalonzo, Karua, and Malala used the event to show solidarity with Gachagua, praising the role of elders like Gathoni in guiding Kenya’s future. Kalonzo also made headlines by referring to Gachagua as his “cousin” due to their shared Meru roots.
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].
