Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has publicly addressed the bitter fallout he experienced with former President Uhuru Kenyatta during the 2022 general elections, describing their political split as acrimonious but ultimately reconcilable.
In a candid interview on the popular Iko Nini podcast, Gachagua recounted his long-standing relationship with Uhuru, emphasizing the personal and professional history that underpinned their bond.
“Uhuru is my older brother. For your information, I served as his personal assistant for seven years. I believed in him and his leadership,” Gachagua said.
The former Deputy President noted that the political divergence during the 2022 elections, when he threw his support behind President William Ruto, created tensions that spilled into public discourse.
He acknowledged that during the campaign period, he had made remarks about Uhuru that were heated and, in hindsight, regrettable.
“Along the way in politics, when I decided to support William, it is his wish, we differed politically, and it was very acrimonious, as it was in politics,” Gachagua explained.
The remarks, which fueled speculation of a permanent rift, painted a picture of a fractured political alliance at a time when Kenya’s electoral contest was intensely polarized.
Despite the hostility that characterized that period, Gachagua revealed that he personally took initiative to heal the breach after the elections.
“After we won, it is me who took the first step. I took the very courageous step to apologize to the President for whatever I could have said that would find a name, and it was forgiven,” he said, framing the reconciliation as a personal responsibility rather than a political necessity.
Gachagua’s comments challenge narratives that suggest formal political gestures, such as public handshakes, are required to restore relationships between leaders.
“People keep on saying that we need to do a handshake with the former President. Handshake for what? We are brothers; the issue of family. You cannot keep on asking,” he asserted.
The interview sheds light on the personal dimensions of Kenya’s high-stakes political environment, illustrating how long-term relationships and shared history can coexist with political rivalry.