Many Kenyans are hurting. Prices of food and fuel have gone up. Jobs are scarce. Families are struggling to survive. People are tired of broken promises from those in power.
In this situation, some are starting to see Rigathi Gachagua as the man who can bring change. But if we are honest, Gachagua is not the answer. He is part of the same system that has brought us here.
When it comes to honesty, Gachagua has questions to answer. In 2022 the High Court ordered him to surrender two hundred million shillings after he failed to explain how he got the money.
He was also facing a case involving billions of shillings before it was withdrawn for lack of evidence. That did not clear him. It only showed weakness in the prosecution. These stories show a pattern that does not fit with the clean and open leadership Kenyans are crying out for.
Ex-DP Rigathi Gachagua speaks during a past political rally. Photo: NTV Source: X
Gachagua’s own words have also caused concern. He once said government is like a company with shareholders. This meant that those who voted for the regime should enjoy more benefits.
Such thinking divides the country and denies Kenyans the equal rights that the Constitution promises. He later pushed the call for one man one vote one shilling.
While it may sound fair in some parts of Mt Kenya, experts warned that it could take resources away from other regions.
His problems in office did not end there. In 2024 Parliament and the Senate removed him from his position as Deputy President.
He was found guilty on several counts including violating the Constitution and promoting ethnic division. Whether you believe it was political or not, it still shows how deep he is caught in the same toxic politics that Kenyans want to escape.
Gachagua speaks during a past rally
At the same time many Kenyans are angry with President William Ruto. His government forced harsh taxes in 2024 which led to deadly protests. He later withdrew the Finance Bill after pressure from the people.
Courts also stopped the housing levy in the 2023 law, ruling it was unconstitutional. Families felt this pain in their homes and on the streets. So when Gachagua says he is the solution, we must ask why his record should give us hope when it is filled with division, court cases and impeachment.
This is not only about Gachagua or Ruto. It is about the whole political class. Raila, Kalonzo, Ruto and Gachagua all operate in a system that rewards tribe, money and slogans over service. Changing one face for another will not remove the roots of the problem.
President William Ruto in Kisumu. Photo: The Star Source: X
What Kenyans need is very different. We need leaders of good character who treat public office as a trust and not a chance to eat. We need leaders who show their finances openly, respect court orders and follow the Constitution.
President William Ruto signs a bill at State House. Photo: William Ruto Source: Facebook.
We also need promises that can be measured. That means clear steps on lowering the price of basics like food and fuel, fair distribution of county money, support for schools and hospitals and police who are held accountable.
But we cannot just wait for a saviour. The youth have already shown us that when citizens come together, they can force leaders to listen. Protests stopped unfair taxes. If Kenyans remain united and demand answers, no leader will ignore them.
We must also stop giving blank cheques to politicians. If a leader wants our support, they should show the plan and the numbers. If they cannot do that, they do not deserve our trust.
Kenyans are right to feel angry about the suffering of the last few years. President Ruto has failed in many ways and should be challenged. But making Rigathi Gachagua the alternative will not save us.
It will only give us another politician who is part of the same old system. The real solution is to demand leaders who are honest, competent and ready to serve every Kenyan equally. Until then the faces may change but the suffering will not.
