Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has broken his silence following his dramatic exit from Kenya’s second-highest political office, saying the impeachment gave him a chance to rediscover his life and reconnect with his roots.
Speaking from his rural home in Wamunyoro, Nyeri County, Gachagua said he feels liberated and rejuvenated, contrary to the expectations of his political detractors. He likened his return to the village to a fish being returned to water, saying Wamunyoro is the source of his political inspiration and strategy.
“This is where I am at my best,” Gachagua said in an interview with Citizen Digital. “My thinking, planning, my strategy all of it is sharper here. This is where I was born, and this is where my politics started. Being sent back here was not punishment it was a blessing.”
Gachagua, who was impeached amid political tensions and internal rifts within the ruling coalition, dismissed those who thought his removal would end his political journey. Instead, he claims, the move only reignited his spirit and gave him space to reconnect with his family and reflect on his political future.
“The people who engineered my impeachment laughed that they were sending me back to the village. But what they did not understand is that Wamunyoro is the cradle of political resilience. What they saw as exile has become a launchpad,” he remarked.
The former DP noted that in the wake of his political downfall, he came to appreciate the true value of family. “In greatness, many people want to associate with you, but during adversity, only family remains. My immediate family stood by me,” he said.
Now more relaxed and spending quality time with loved ones, Gachagua said he is far from finished politically. “The village they thought would silence me has become a thorn in their flesh,” he declared.
As he continues to enjoy the slower pace of life in Wamunyoro, Gachagua’s tone suggests a politician far from defeated perhaps just regrouping for another chapter.
