31/05/2025
Know Your Leader – The Story of Rigathi H.E. Rigathi Gachagua, EGH
In the lush green hills of Nyeri County, nestled in a quiet village called Hiriga, a boy named Geoffrey Rigathi Gachagua was born in 1965. His arrival into the world wasn’t met with pomp or privilege—but into a home defined by resilience. His parents were Mau Mau freedom fighters, and their small house stood not just as a shelter but as a symbol of sacrifice. His childhood was not one of abundance, but it was rich in purpose. From a young age, Rigathi was taught the value of hard work, humility, and Kenya’s long struggle for freedom.
He fetched water from streams, herded goats, and studied by the dim glow of a kerosene lamp. In a home filled with stories of resistance and patriotism, his worldview was shaped by the spirit of service and sacrifice. While other children may have dreamt of riches, young Rigathi dreamt of justice, of restoring dignity to the downtrodden, and of being part of something bigger than himself.
Rigathi’s academic journey took him from Kabiruini Primary to the halls of Kianyaga High School and eventually to the University of Nairobi, where he pursued a degree in Political Science and Literature. While the city introduced him to a faster pace of life, he never lost the grounding instilled in him by his rural upbringing. After graduation, he joined the ranks of public servants as a District Officer, a job that meant waking up before dawn to meet community elders, organize barazas, and ensure peace in regions often plagued by unrest.
He wasn’t a man of flamboyance, but of grit. His shoes were often dusty from travel, his shirts sometimes creased from long meetings in the field. But he worked. He listened. He showed up.
For years, Rigathi remained behind the scenes—working quietly as a personal assistant to influential leaders, including a young Uhuru Kenyatta. But the desire to serve from the frontlines grew stronger with time. In 2017, he took the bold step of running for the Mathira parliamentary seat. His campaign wasn’t funded by big money, but by the goodwill of people who believed in his story—who saw in him one of their own. He won.
In Parliament, he was fiery and sometimes controversial, but always passionate. He spoke the language of the people. In 2022, William Ruto, then the Deputy President, picked him as a running mate in what was seen as a symbolic alliance between the mountain and the valley. When they won, Rigathi became Kenya’s Deputy President—arguably the most powerful man ever to come out of Nyeri.
Yet leadership is not a smooth road.
In office, Rigathi was loved and loathed in equal measure. His tough-talking nature and defense of the ordinary mwananchi endeared him to many, but his approach also sparked political storms. He was accused of stepping beyond the boundaries of his office, of stirring divisions, and of allowing his past to haunt his present. In 2024, these allegations culminated in a historic impeachment—the first of its kind for a Deputy President in Kenya.
He stood in the Senate chambers, head high, denying the charges with the same grit that saw him rise from the hills of Hiriga. To some, it was a fall from grace. To others, it was a crucible moment
But behind the politics, behind the microphones and soundbites, is a man. A husband to Pastor Dorcas. A father of two. A son of freedom fighters. A man who walked barefoot to school. A man whose life is a mirror of Kenya’s own journey—marked by pain, resilience, hope, and reinvention.
DCP PARTY
