President William Ruto used a meeting with teachers at State House to shed light on his decision to part ways with his former deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, saying leadership requires surrounding oneself with highly educated partners.
Speaking during a meeting with teachers at State House, Ruto said leadership requires surrounding oneself with individuals who are more educated than oneself in order to deliver results.
“Huyu deputy wangu mnamwona aje? Ukitaka kufaulu tafuta deputy amesoma kuliko wewe. If you want to succeed surround yourself with people who are more learned than you,” Ruto told the gathering.
“But I had another one who always complained he was not learned. I thought he would make me fail. So I replaced him,” Ruto added, in remarks that drew laughter from the audience.
The President in 2022 conceded that Gachagua’s political bravado had made him an attractive running mate, helping secure votes in key battlegrounds.
The pair’s relationship soured following opposition leader Raila Odinga’s surprise visit to State House, which triggered mistrust and led to Gachagua’s impeachment.
He has since formed the Democratic Change Party (DCP), though his path to 2027 remains uncertain.
Ruto praised current Deputy President Kithure Kindiki for complementing his leadership with strong academic credentials and a hands-on approach to empowerment programmes.
The President said that while political instincts are valuable in campaigns, effective governance requires education, vision and teamwork.
Gachagua is yet to comment on this response.
The head of state urged teachers to adopt the same principle, surrounding themselves with strong colleagues and focusing on nurturing the next generation of leaders through education.
