NTV's James Smart Confuses Gachagua On Cost Of Kerosene [VIDEO]

United Democratic Alliance (UDA) running mate, Rigathi Gachagua was at a loss to respond to a question fielded by NTV anchor James Smart when asked about the price of Kerosene in Kenya.

During the 2022 Deputy Presidential debate held on Tuesday, July 19 at the Catholic University of East Africa (CUEA) main campus in Karen, Nairobi, Gachagua scored excellent marks when asked about the cost of basic commodities but it was the most common fuel product that he was caught off-guard.

Instead, he responded by noting that he does not go to the supermarket, basically insinuating that the product is sold in supermarkets across the country.

Fuel prices update for between July 15, 2022, and August 14, 2022. /VIRALTEAKE

His response seemed to have irked Kenyans, if not ignited a slew of memes, given that he has been a proponent of the 'hustlers' who use the fuel product in their households for cheaper domestic purposes compared to cooking gas for example.

James Smart: Hon. Gachagua, what is the cost of milk?

Gachagua: Farmers sell at Ksh42. At the supermarkets, in some places, it is Ksh120 per litre, in others, it is Ksh130, depending on where the supermarket is.

Smart: Kerosene?

Gachagua: I don't go to the supermarkets.

Taking to his Twitter handle, Suna East Member of Parliament Junet Mohamed found fault in his response given that this was the same debate whereby Gachagua made public details of his wealth. To be specific, Gachagua revealed that he was worth Ksh800 million.

"Tonight, if you were shocked that Rigathi Gachagua does not know the price of kerosene, then maybe you may have forgotten he's a billionaire who made his wealth exclusively from state capture," Junet posted. 

Gachagua was responding to his Azimio la Umoja counterpart, Martha Karua, who claimed that he had Ksh5 billion in his accounts.

"My account did not receive Ksh5 billion; that is propaganda. The money that I have is well documented. This is money I made during the reign of Mwai Kibaki when the economy was thriving.

"I made over Ksh200 million and invested in an account that account has been running for the last 8 years," he said.

He added that the Ksh200 million was frozen by the government and went on to list down the rest of the proceeds from government and parastatal institutions while serving in the Ministry of Livestock.

"I have 200 million (in the frozen account) that is the money that is held. Ksh64 million I worked in the Ministry of Lands and settlement, Ksh10 million in Kenya Power, Ksh33 million I got during my time in the Ministry of Livestock, and another Ksh.46 million I worked in an organisation called Batek.

"I am worth Ksh800 million minus the Ksh200 million they are holding," he clarified.

Martha Karua and Rigathi Gachagua shake hands during the 2022 Deputy Presidential debate. /PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES KENYA