Gachagua Demands Apology From Nation For Linking Him To New Political Party
In the article, Gachagua's team was claimed to have made contact with The New Democrats Party which was initially headed by former President Mwai Kibaki's son Jimmy Kibaki.
Viral Tea Ke Writer 
The Office of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Wednesday, May 29 wrote to the Nation Media Group (NMG) demanding an apology as well as retraction of an article that claimed that Gachagua was eyeing a new political party amidst reports of a fallout with President William Ruto.
The article was titled Gachagua Seeks New Party Amid Falling Out with Ruto and Ruto-Gachagua tiff: DP Gachagua in Search of a New Political Outfit and was published in the Daily Nation Newspaper as well as its digital platforms on May 29, 2024.
In a statement, the Head of Deputy Presidential Communication Service, Njeri Rugene termed the reports as "one-sided, false, concocted and laced with innuendos" as well as malice.
A screenshot of a Nation Media Group article alleging that DP Gachagua is seeking a new political party. /NMG
"To associate His Excellency the Deputy President with another political party, especially one with questionable association can only have been done in bad faith, with the sole intention of undermining His Excellency's role as the Deputy Party Leader of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Party," Rugene stated in part.
"It is deliberately intended to disparage and attack the integrity of His Excellency Rigathi Gachagua, the Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya."
The office further claimed that the article clearly violated the tenets of professional journalism that demand objectivity, balance and fairness.
"In this regard, we demand a retraction of this fabricated article and an apology with the same prominence," the statement added.
In the article, Gachagua's team was claimed to have made contact with The New Democrats Party which was initially headed by former President Mwai Kibaki's son Jimmy Kibaki.
However, Nation's article claimed that they reached out to sources who alleged that the second in command was courting several political players including a former official in ex-president Uhuru Kenyatta's administration to secure a deal.
"He has acquired a political party and recently approached a governor from Western Kenya to be part of his team. He even asked him to plan a meeting with a senior former CS so that they can discuss future politics," the report as quoted by Nation stated.
The report, as well as several comments from leaders allied to UDA, continued to expose growing differences in President Ruto's party, though Gachagua has kept insisting that his relationship with Ruto is still intact.
