Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has finally met the young Kenyan whose striking resemblance to him recently became a social media talking point.
The two came face-to-face in Washington, where they shook hands, laughed and posed for photographs. What began online as a playful comparison had turned into an unusual real-life encounter.
The meeting appeared informal. There was little of the ceremony associated with a political event. Instead, the two men seemed entertained by the likeness that had brought them together.
Gachagua wore a dark quilted jacket over a patterned shirt, with dark trousers and a black brimmed hat. A checkered shuka hung over his shoulder, and he carried his traditional walking stick.
His younger look-alike, popularly known as “Rigathi Junior”, appeared to have taken inspiration from the same style. He wore a checkered shirt, a blue-and-yellow shuka and a wide-brimmed brown cowboy hat.
The resemblance was difficult to miss as the two stood together. In photographs, they were seen smiling and holding hands as they faced the cameras.
Gachagua’s wife, Pastor Dorcas, also joined them for photographs. She stood beside the younger man as the group shared the light-hearted moment.
How the comparison began
The meeting follows a burst of attention that began on social media in August.
On August 16, a video of the young man circulated online. Viewers quickly began comparing his facial features, smile and teeth with those of Gachagua.
His clothing added to the resemblance. In the video, he wore a cowboy hat similar to the type Gachagua has worn at some public appearances.
“Look at this man, he looks like Gachagua. He even smiles like him,” a man is heard saying in the clip as others reacted to the likeness.
The comparison quickly became a source of amusement online, with users joking about how closely the two appeared to resemble each other.
Gachagua’s distinctive public style has also helped make the comparison more recognisable. His use of cowboy hats at some public engagements has become associated with his image.
A familiar Kenyan phenomenon
Political look-alikes are not new in Kenya.
Michael Ngige, for example, has attracted attention for his resemblance to Kenya’s founding president, Jomo Kenyatta. He has appeared at public events wearing clothing and accessories associated with Kenyatta.
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta has also had a look-alike draw public attention. Around 2020, a man from Nairobi’s Umoja estate became known online because of his resemblance to the former president.
The late President Mwai Kibaki, too, had a recognised look-alike. Samuel Njau Gicheru, popularly known as Uncle Sam, was noted for his physical resemblance to the former president.
However, the attention belongs to “Rigathi Junior”, whose resemblance to Gachagua has moved from a viral video to an unexpected meeting in Washington.
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