Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has downplayed his previous attacks on former President Uhuru Kenyatta, saying his criticism during the 2022 general election campaigns was purely political and not driven by personal grudge.
Speaking during a recent interview, Gachagua said his remarks at the time when he served as William Ruto’s running mate were part of the normal political contest. He noted that election campaigns are often heated, with candidates using strong language to outshine their opponents.
“Campaigning was campaigning; when you are campaigning, there are no rules. It’s rough and nothing personal, really. We were just looking for leadership,” Gachagua said. “The things that were said then dropped immediately when the election was over.”
During the 2022 campaigns, Gachagua frequently criticised then-President Kenyatta for endorsing opposition leader Raila Odinga, accusing him and his family of benefiting from “state capture.” However, Gachagua now insists that such remarks were simply part of political theatre.
The former deputy president, who has since fallen out with President Ruto and was impeached, is now positioning himself for the presidency in 2027. He urged Kenyans to view politics as a competitive but impersonal field.
“Politics is not a church affair or a wedding,” he remarked. “When you’re looking for votes, you come up with all sorts of issues against your opponents. And really, there is nothing personal.”
Gachagua cited past reconciliations between political rivals as evidence that hostility during campaigns rarely lasts. He referenced the cooperation between Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga after their fierce rivalry and the current working relationship between President Ruto and Odinga.
“When people are campaigning and they use words here and there against each other, it’s part of the game,” he said. “There is nothing really personal.”
The Mathira-born politician emphasized that political competition should be understood as a temporary contest rather than a source of permanent enmity.
