Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is facing strong criticism from Kenyan Gen Zs in the United States, who are calling on him to abandon divisive politics and position himself as a unifying national leader. The confrontation occurred during a town hall meeting in Baltimore, one of several stops in Gachagua’s U.S. tour aimed at engaging the diaspora and laying groundwork for a potential 2027 presidential bid.
Valentine Wanjiru Githae, a youth activist from the 625 Movement and a native of Mathira Gachagua’s home constituency delivered a blunt message during the forum. “We are Gen Zs, and we are here to tell you the truth,” she said. “If we do not, we are doomed to fail.”
Wanjiru criticized the former Deputy President for beginning his address in Kikuyu, a move she said promotes ethnic exclusion. “If we position ourselves as Kikuyu, another tribe will do the same, and before we know it, we are back to the same problem,” she warned, calling for an inclusive approach to leadership.
She also challenged Gachagua’s earlier remarks in Boston where he praised the Kikuyu community as the drivers of Kenya’s economy, urging him to recognize the contributions of all communities. “We have that sense of entitlement as Kikuyus, and it has to stop,” she said. “We cannot say that people from other tribes are not hardworking.”
Gachagua, who has launched Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) offices in Washington State and Massachusetts, responded by accusing President Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza administration of perpetuating tribal narratives. “My daughter, don’t fall for that narrative. That narrative is meant to intimidate the Mt Kenya people,” he said.
As the 2027 race begins to take shape, Gachagua’s tour underscores his intent to tap into diaspora support. However, the pushback from Gen Zs signals a generational shift one that demands a departure from tribal politics in favor of a more inclusive national vision. Whether Gachagua can evolve into the kind of leader this generation demands remains an open question.
