After keeping Kenyans waiting for more than 17 hours, Deputy President and Kenya Kwanza presidential flag bearer William Ruto has named Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua to be his running mate in the August 9th 2022 elections.
Addressing the Press on Sunday afternoon at his official residence in Karen Nairobi Ruto said “I nominate my good friend Rigathi Gachagua to be my running mate in the August 9, 2022 presidential election.”
The Deputy President said he chose Rigathi from other qualified candidates including Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro, Tharaka Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki, Murang’a Women Representative Alice Wahome and Speaker Justin Muturi. Ruto said he will sign an Executive Order during his first days in office, if he wins the election, to give his deputy formal responsibilities which include coordination of Cabinet activities.
On his part, Hon. Gachagua accepted the nomination saying he will not let Kenyans and the Hustler nation down. “This is the biggest day in my life and I truly thank you our Deputy President for the trust and confidence you have bestowed in me.”
Read also: Disappointment in Kenya Kwanza as Ruto fails to name Running Mate
57 year-old Rigathi Gachagua is a younger brother to the former Nyeri Governor Nderitu Gachagua who passed on after a few years in office.
He attended Kabiruini Primary School from 1972 to 1977 where he sat for his Certificate of primary Education and later joined Kianyaga High School from 1978 to 1981 for his O levels. From 1982 to 1983 he studied for his A levels at Kianyaga High Schools. From 1985 to 1988, he studied for a Bachelor Arts Degree in Political Science and Literature at the University of Nairobi. In 1990, he joined the Administration Police Institute for Paramilitary Training and later joined the Kenya School of Government for advanced Public Administration Course.
From 1997 to 1999, he worked in the Office of the President as a District Officer. From 2001 to 2006, he served as Personal Assistant to H.E. President Uhuru Kenyatta who was the then Minister for Local Government. Rigathi worked for Uhuru during the last years of the Kanu regime as a Cabinet minister and was with him during the 2002 presidential elections and later as opposition leader from 2001 to 2006.
When his brother Nderitu Gachagua died, he attempted to run for Nyeri Governor but later dropped his bid and instead successfully vied for Member of Parliament for Mathira Constituency where he has served as MP from the year 2017 to date.
Despite spending five years as Uhuru Kenyatta’s personal assistant in the early 2000s, Gachagua is these days one of the President’s fiercest critics. He is known to be a man of wealth and is one of the biggest funders of Deputy President William Ruto’s UDA party. He is also one of the greatest defenders of the Deputy President in Mount Kenya.
