Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has narrated how he convinced Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof. Kithure Kindiki to leave the second-in-command position for him after a 17-hour deadlock.
DP Gachagua claimed on Sunday during a thanksgiving service in Tharaka Nithi that President William Ruto had him and CS Kindiki as his top candidates when he was looking for his deputy.
DP Gachagua stated that they were both qualified for the position on merit, making President Ruto’s decision difficult.
“When the president was looking for a running mate he saw that I am competent and also professor is competent and he was stuck. I am a hard worker and professor is also a hard worker. I am honest and professor is honest. We were stuck for almost 17 hours,” said Gachagua.
As a result, President Ruto asked the duo to meet and decide who will be the country’s second-in-command.
DP Gachagua added that during their meeting, they agreed to have him take on the role and that CS Kindiki would be given a lucrative state job.
“He (Ruto) told us to sit down with professor and we talked and I told him that I am a bit older so niwachie mimi niendelee na wewe tukipata upatiwe ingine kubwa,” he said as he thanked Kindiki for agreeing to the arrangement.
DP Gachagua also lauded CS Kindiki for the work he is doing in his docket, particularly how he is dealing with banditry in Northern Kenya.
He assured him of the state’s full support, expressing confidence that he will permanently end the threat.
“He had not disappointed the president and I. He works hard and he is committed. He is working so hard on the banditry in Northern Kenya and we support you and when you succeed you will have given this county alot of respect.”
During the political campaign, Prof. Kindiki was considered one of the most likely candidates to be chosen as running mate, but President Ruto confirmed that DP Gachagua (then Mathira MP) had made the cut.
Along with Kindiki and Gachagua, Attorney General Justin Muturi, Water and Sanitation CS Alice Wahome, Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru, and Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro were among the candidates considered for the position.
