Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has recounted how he played a key role in ensuring former Attorney General Justin Muturi retained his Cabinet position during the 2024 reshuffle following the Gen-Z protests.
Speaking at Muturi’s book launch in Nairobi on Friday, Gachagua described tense moments inside State House and a sharp disagreement with President William Ruto over the final list of appointees.
According to Gachagua, during the second batch of Cabinet appointments, President Ruto summoned him and ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi to flank him during the announcement. However, Gachagua refused to participate without first reviewing the list.
“In the next appointment, he called Musalia and I to flank him and announce the last batch. He was in a hurry and told us to go. I told him to wait, how do we flank you to announce what we don’t know? If we’re flanking you, we must be part and parcel of it. I cannot hear it for the first time with the rest of Kenyans and the press. Ruto rushed to his office,” he recalled.
Gachagua said the president returned, visibly angry, and threw the list at him, warning him about his stance. On reviewing the list, Gachagua noticed Muturi had been dropped in favor of someone recommended by Cecily Mbarire. He immediately rejected the change, citing his unwillingness to endorse it publicly.
The former DP added that the confrontation escalated, with President Ruto accusing him of tribalism. Ultimately, the president conceded, allowing Muturi to remain in the Cabinet. Gachagua stressed that he had made it clear he would publicly distance himself from the announcement if Muturi was excluded.
The revelation highlights the behind-the-scenes negotiations and political maneuvering that influence Kenya’s Cabinet appointments, offering rare insight into the tension-filled corridors of power at State House.
