Gachagua Clarifies Photo Triggering Fallout Rumours With CS Kindiki

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Saturday, April 1 shut down media reports alleging that he and Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki were not seeing each other eye to eye.

Speaking during an interdenominational service in Malava, Kakamega County, Gachagua indicated that the reports had gathered momentum when Kindiki was absent for a security meeting held at Gachagua's office on Sunday, March 26.

The second-in-command clarified that the CS had travelled out of the county on official duties amidst the ongoing banditry crisis.

Side-by-side image of DP Rigathi Gachagua and CS Kithure Kindiki. /FILE

He accused the media of taking the photo out of context, stating that he still had a good working relationship with CS Kindiki.

"I had a meeting on Sunday with our security chiefs, and Kindiki was missing as he had gone to deal with bandits. They started saying that they were problems between us," he stated.

He further countered reports insinuating that he was also in bad books with Prime Cabinet CS Musalia Mudavadi among other cabinet secretaries, noting that he did not have issues with either of them.

He gave an example of his long-standing relationship with Mudavadi back when he was the assistant of former President Uhuru Kenyatta.

"The media think that our government can have cracks. They are behind the narrative that I have differences with Mudavadi.

"Mudavadi and I come a long way. I have eaten food in his house and spent nights there as I worked as the personal assistant of former President Uhuru Kenyatta," he stated.

Gachagua went on to accuse media houses of favouring the Azimio la Umoja coalition by sponsoring opinion polls prior to the August 9, 2022, general elections, disregarding President William Ruto's victory and trying to force a deal between the Head of State and Azimio leader, Raila Odinga as a means of immersing themselves in government.

"That is why they are glorifying violence and anarchy because they are part of Azimio," he went on.

Mudavadi, on his part, slammed the media for leading in punditry during their coverage of the Azimio protests, something similar to pundits during football matchdays.

"The freedom of the media must be protected and defended, but the media must be responsible. You cannot be commentating like pundits...football pundits. They have had panellists and they've said, they have reached Kangemi, what do you think about that...ooh, there's a stone being thrown.

"Are you a pundit for anarchy? Where are the ethics? Where is the ethical attitude of the media? I remember when people were sick sometimes you are even trained not to show certain photographs, to moderate the photographs that you bring out," he hit out.

Reports of the Gachagua - Kindiki rivalry emerged early in the week as it was alleged that the duo was not seeing eye to eye, differences which allegedly intensified during the Azimio demonstrations.

In March 26 meeting, Gachagua hosted Inspector General Japhet Koome and Nairobi Police Commander Adamson Bungei, among other security officers, to plan for security over the demonstrations - held on March 27, in which Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo was present.