In a rare public outburst, Nominated MP Sabina Chege has laid bare the reasons many Kenyans soured on former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. Speaking frankly, she said Gachagua’s abrasive style and ego alienated key supporters and paved the way for his political fall.
“Did Gachagua kick himself out or was he pushed? Is there any leader who acts like a demigod, deciding who deserves to be voted or not?” Chege asked during a recent interview.
She argued that Gachagua’s downfall began the moment he started seeing himself as above the political fray. “He acted selfishly and spoke harshly to people who disagreed with him. That is not leadership.”
Chege drew on Kenya’s political past to highlight a different way of handling rivalry. She cited the 1992 presidential contest between Kenneth Matiba and Mwai Kibaki as an example. Matiba, then a popular candidate from Mt Kenya, lost votes to Kibaki, splitting the region’s support and handing victory to President Daniel Moi.
“But Matiba never insulted Kibaki or called him names,” Chege said. “He accepted the outcome without bitterness. That’s what true leaders do.”
This, she believes, is a lesson Gachagua would do well to learn.
For decades, the Mt Kenya region has voted in waves of enthusiasm, backing parties like TNA in 2013, Jubilee in 2017, and UDA in 2022. Chege worries this ‘euphoria’ has often overshadowed careful choice, allowing leaders with little to show for it to rise.
“It’s sad when people vote out of excitement and then turn around to call their leaders fools. Who are you to judge when you have no record yourself?” she asked.
Chege added that although many initially supported Gachagua, his blunt and often harsh way of dealing with opposition alienated allies. “The more he speaks, the more he exposes himself.”
The tension came to a head in October 2024, when the Kenyan Senate upheld Gachagua’s impeachment. It was a historic moment — the first time a Deputy President was removed through impeachment.
Senators found Gachagua guilty on five counts, including serious breaches of the constitution and abuse of office.
While Gachagua’s supporters argue his removal was politically motivated, many see it as a clear message against a leadership style that is divisive and self-serving.
As Chege puts it: “We need leaders who unite, not those who build walls with harsh words and selfish actions.”
