How Media Is Setting Up Gachagua To Fail- Ngunjiri Wambugu

Former Nyeri Town Member of Parliament, Ngunjiri Wambugu has claimed that the media may be playing a part in rendering Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua useless in the Kenya Kwanza administration.

In a statement on Wednesday, October 5, Wambugu - an ally of former President Uhuru Kenyatta -expressed concerns on how Gachagua's image is being tarnished, citing an example of the use of funny cartoons painting him as a joker.

The businessman believed that the media has been relying on his shooting-from-the-hip remarks to generate controversy across the board in the past few weeks and view him in a bad way, on top of the focus on his lifestyle.

Former Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu during a past function. /DAILY NATION

"A few weeks ago I raised a concern about the seemingly deliberate efforts to caricature the DP. I pointed out that it doesn’t look random. Let’s be honest, the man from my home county is neither the worst-dressed politician around; nor is he a political buffoon. 

"But we have cartoons & memes of him as such. He also says a lot of sensible stuff in between his earthy humour and jokes. But Media somehow tends to only carry those stories that make us laugh at him," he lamented.

Wambugu then revisited the Central Bank of Kenyan (CBK)'s statement which corrected Gachagua's sentiments during a Citizen TV interview on Sunday, October 2, citing it as a tonic for his downfall in the long run.

He wondered why government officials were using social media channels and other forms of media to respond to him unfailingly.

"Now we are at a point government officers are comfortable responding to him via the media. Gradually we will get to a point where his public image will be of a political joker who’s out of his depth as DP. 

"In a couple of months, no one will take him or what he says seriously. Ultimately this will completely undermine his office and his role as DP," he added, noting that Gachagua was falling into the trap of his image being undermined.

Wambugu wondered why the media was determined to strain the relationship between Gachagua and President William Ruto as they have been working well together since being sworn in on Tuesday, September 13.

Gachagua has been somewhat of an innocent target for criticism in recent weeks over his remarks on various occasions. His remarks for instance on the return of the shamba system drew sharp criticism from conservationists who feared that it would trigger a deforestation crisis.

However, the DP clarified that he has been often misquoted by the media.

"While in Baringo, I spoke about Government's intention to start an afforestation program. I urge the media to report objectively.

"I meant that the government will engage farmers to plant trees as they grow crops and then vacate once the trees have matured," he said.