Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu has shed light on why Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua was conspicuously missing during Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka’s and other leaders’ recent visit to Bondo, the hometown of Raila Odinga. According to Nyutu, Gachagua chose to stay away because he cannot work with individuals who were behind his alleged political humiliation.
Nyutu stated, “Gachagua hakuenda Bondo na Kalonzo kwa sababu yeye hawezi shirikiana na watu wale walimfukuza kwa ofisi. Na Gachagua hatafuti kupendwa huko Nyanza.”
Translated, this means: “Gachagua did not go to Bondo with Kalonzo because he cannot work with people who kicked him out of office. And Gachagua is not seeking to be loved in Nyanza.”
The Senator’s remarks come amid growing speculation about divisions within President Ruto’s administration and the political realignments that are reshaping the national stage. For weeks, Gachagua’s absence from major state events and his low public profile have fueled rumors of tension between him and some of his colleagues in government.
Nyutu’s defense paints the Deputy President as a man standing on principle rather than populism. By saying that Gachagua “is not seeking to be loved in Nyanza,” the Senator emphasized that the DP is not interested in political showmanship or chasing public approval in regions historically opposed to him. Instead, he wants to maintain his dignity and integrity, especially against those he believes undermined his office or authority.
The comments also reflect the ongoing political friction between different factions within the Kenya Kwanza coalition. Gachagua has often portrayed himself as a defender of Mount Kenya’s interests, insisting on what he calls the “truthful politics of honesty and loyalty.” His critics, however, accuse him of isolating himself from national unity efforts by prioritizing regional loyalty over inclusivity.
By invoking the idea that Gachagua “cannot work with people who expelled him,” Nyutu appears to reference the political infighting and attempts to weaken the Deputy President’s influence within government. His statement suggests that Gachagua’s absence from the Bondo trip was not a snub against Raila Odinga’s community, but a principled choice to avoid hypocrisy.
Still, analysts argue that in Kenya’s complex political environment, such decisions often carry symbolic weight. Skipping a high-profile event in Bondo — Raila Odinga’s backyard — could easily be interpreted as a missed opportunity to build bridges or show national unity.
= Senator Joe Nyutu’s remarks shed light on the internal tensions within Kenya’s leadership and the delicate balance of loyalty, pride, and political survival. Whether Gachagua’s stance strengthens his reputation as a principled leader or isolates him further remains to be seen. But one thing is clear — the Deputy President is charting his own political path, with little concern for appeasing those he believes wronged him.
