Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is making a big move to get young people on his side. On Saturday, he met with Kebaso Morara, a popular activist who’s been speaking up for Kenya’s youth, to talk about what’s wrong with the country and how to fix it.
Gachagua says he wants to work with the younger generation—especially Gen Z—to shake things up in Kenyan politics.
The meeting happened just days after the two shared a stage at the launch of the People’s Liberation Party in Nairobi.
Morara said they talked about big issues like how hard it is for young people to find jobs, the economy leaving them out, and the government mistreating people.
“I sat down with Rigathi Gachagua to figure out what’s really going on in Kenyan politics and what we can do to make things better,” Morara explained.
Gachagua is betting big on young folks. Earlier this week, he told some local radio stations that his new political party—still in the works—will have a young person as his deputy.
“I’ve got the experience, and they’ve got the ideas and energy,” he said. “Together, we can make a great team.”
This isn’t just talk for Gachagua. He used to be Deputy President under William Ruto, but he got kicked out last year after clashing with the government over how it handled huge youth-led protests.
He claims he lost his job because he stood up for the young people who were out in the streets, demanding change.
“They trust me because I had their back when it counted,” he said.
For Gachagua, teaming up with Gen Z is a chance to bounce back. After being pushed out of power, he’s been looking for a way to stay in the game.
He thinks young people—who’ve already shown they can make the government listen by storming parliament last year—could be his key. He’s promising to guide them with his know-how while letting them take the lead.
Morara, who’s been pushing for youth voices to be heard, said this meeting is just the start.
He plans to talk to more leaders from all kinds of backgrounds to keep the momentum going.
For now, Gachagua’s next step is getting his new party off the ground. If he can convince young Kenyans he’s serious about giving them a real say, he might just turn things around—not just for himself, but for a whole generation ready to take over.
