Rigathi Gachagua facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rigathi Gachagua
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Gachagua in 2023
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| 12th Deputy President of Kenya | |
| In office 13 September 2022 – 1 November 2024 |
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| President | William Ruto |
| Preceded by | William Ruto |
| Succeeded by | Kithure Kindiki |
| Member of the Kenyan Parliament | |
| In office 31 August 2017 – 8 September 2022 |
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| Preceded by | Peter Weru Kinyua |
| Succeeded by | Eric Wamumbi |
| Constituency | Mathira |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 28 February, 1965 (age 60 years) Hiriga, Nyeri District, Kenya |
| Political party | DCP |
| Other political affiliations |
Kenya Kwanza (2022–2024) |
| Spouse |
Dorcas Wanjiku
(m. 1989) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education |
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| Occupation |
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| Nickname | Riggy G |
Geoffrey Rigathi Gachagua (born on February 28, 1965) is a Kenyan politician. He served as the 12th deputy president of Kenya from September 13, 2022, until October 2024. Before this, he was a Member of Parliament for the Mathira area from 2017 to 2022. He is also the leader of the DCP Kenya political party.
Mr. Gachagua held several important roles in the government before becoming Deputy President. These included working as an Assistant Secretary and as a personal assistant to top government officials. In the 2022 election, he was chosen by William Ruto to be his running mate. They won the election together.
In October 2024, the National Assembly voted to remove Mr. Gachagua from his position. This decision was later confirmed by the Senate. After his removal, President William Ruto nominated Kithure Kindiki to take his place.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Rigathi Gachagua was born in 1965 in Hiriga village, Nyeri County, Kenya. His parents, Gachagua Reriani and Martha Kirigo, were involved in the Mau Mau rebellion, fighting for Kenya's freedom. His father helped fix guns, and his mother delivered food and supplies to the fighters. He is the younger brother of Nderitu Gachagua, who was the first governor of Nyeri County.
He went to Kabiruini Primary School from 1971 to 1977. After that, he attended Kianyaga High School. In 1985, he joined the University of Nairobi. He graduated in 1988 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science and Literature. While at the university, he was a student leader for his home district and also led the Association of Literature Students.
Career in Public Service
After finishing university, Gachagua worked briefly at the Ministry of Home Affairs & National Heritage. In 1990, he joined the Administration Police Institute. After training, he became a District Officer Cadet, working in the Office of President Daniel arap Moi from 1991 to 1992.
He then served as a District Officer in different areas, including Navakholo Division and Ng'arua Division. From 1999 to 2000, he studied at the Kenya School of Government, earning an Advanced Diploma in Public Administration. Between 2001 and 2006, he worked as the Personal Assistant to Uhuru Kenyatta, who later became President. From 2007 to 2017, Gachagua focused on his private businesses.
Political Journey
Member of Parliament
In the 2017 election, Rigathi Gachagua was elected as a Member of Parliament for the Mathira constituency. This seat was previously held by his brother, Nderitu.
As a legislator, Rigathi Gachagua was known for speaking strongly about issues important to his community.
New Laws and Proposals
In 2019, Gachagua suggested a change to a law about how the government buys goods and services. He wanted to make sure that Kenyan companies had a fair chance to get government contracts. He argued that local businesses found it hard to compete with larger foreign companies. His proposal aimed to set aside smaller government contracts for Kenyan firms. It also suggested stronger rules to ensure local ownership for bigger projects. However, this bill was not passed by the National Assembly, as they felt local companies might not be able to provide all the needed goods and services.
Deputy President
On May 15, 2022, Rigathi Gachagua was chosen as the running mate for William Ruto. Ruto was the presidential candidate for the United Democratic Alliance under the Kenya Kwanza political group. During the election campaign, Gachagua spoke about historical events in Kenya's politics.
Mr. Gachagua had faced some legal questions in the past regarding how government money was handled. In July 2022, a court ordered him to return some money, stating it came from improper dealings. However, in November 2022, some of these charges were later dropped.
Impeachment
On October 1, 2024, a proposal to remove Rigathi Gachagua from his position as Deputy President was brought to Parliament. This happened after his relationship with President Ruto became difficult. Several reasons were given for his removal, including claims of promoting division and not following his oath of office. A large number of Members of Parliament supported this proposal.
On October 8, 2024, 281 Members of the National Assembly voted to remove him. This was the first time since 2010 that the National Assembly had voted to impeach a high-ranking official in the Presidency. The matter then moved to the Senate for a final decision.
On October 17, the Senate held a trial. Despite his lawyers stating he was unwell, the Senate continued with the proceedings. After a vote, the Senate agreed with five of the reasons for his removal. As a result, Rigathi Gachagua was officially removed from the office of Deputy President. Professor Kithure Kindiki was nominated to replace him. The High Court briefly paused Kindiki's swearing-in, but later allowed it to proceed on October 31.
Family Life
Rigathi Gachagua is married to Dorcas Wanjiku Rigathi. She used to work in banking and is now a pastor in Mathira.
They first met in 1985 at a university event at the University of Nairobi. They got married in 1989 and have two sons, named Kevin and Keith.
