Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua revealed that several leaders are hesitant to be seen with him due to fears of possible consequences. He shared that people from various sectors, including religious leaders, professionals, and business figures, have been reaching out to discuss the future of Mt. Kenya, but many are unwilling to publicly associate with him for fear it may negatively affect their businesses.
“The number of people willing to meet with me continues to grow, but many are concerned about being associated with me due to worries about the impact on their enterprises,” Gachagua explained.
Despite this hesitation, Gachagua mentioned that he is still receiving valuable input through personal meetings, emails, WhatsApp, and text messages.
During a TikTok Live session, he admitted that the overwhelming volume of feedback has made it difficult to meet his goal of concluding consultations by the end of January.
“I initially planned to report back to the people by January 31, but the sheer amount of feedback has made that challenging,” he acknowledged.
Gachagua also revealed that many people he has spoken with feel regretful about joining President William Ruto’s party without having their own political platform in place.
“Many are expressing frustration, believing that joining the party without a solid political vehicle was a mistake. They feel we should have negotiated better,” he shared.
Addressing rumors about potential endorsements, Gachagua clarified that his meetings do not mean he is backing any candidate.
“I am a leader focused on serving the people and listening to their concerns. My meetings do not translate into endorsements. I want to assure all my supporters that the people will ultimately decide,” he stated.
He emphasized his belief that political leadership should come from the people, quoting the late Kenneth Matiba: “Let the people decide.”
Gachagua reassured both his supporters and critics that he remains open to discussions with all, regardless of their political affiliations, and promised to provide a detailed report on the consultations soon, adding that he would request additional time if necessary.
