- They have teamed up over the last three days, attending public and church events together after months of alleged hostilities.
- Gachagua has also used the meetings to reassure the president of his political support and loyalty.
Image: WILLIAM RUTO/X
President William Ruto and his Deputy Rigathi Gachagua have embarked on a public display of camaraderie.
They have teamed up over the last three days, attending public and church events together after months of alleged hostilities.
Gachagua accompanied Ruto to Elgeyo Marakwet on Saturday for a tree-planting exercise, accompanied by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.
On Sunday, they were in Nyandarua for a church service at A.I.P.C.A Ndogino, where Ruto called for prayer ahead of the unity government.
On Monday Ruto and Gachagua stormed Nakuru to launch development projects and addressed residents calling on Kenyans to remain united.
The show comes when President Ruto has revealed that he will be cobbling up a national unity government to unite the country.
Ruto's latest rapprochement with Azimio leader Raila Odinga and the planned national dialogue have hinted at a working arrangement.
On Sunday, Ruto said he is looking at forming a government of national unity to diffuse tensions and hold the country together.
“I am fully in charge. I am stronger. I assure Kenyans that I will have a very effective Cabinet to serve Kenyans. I am going for a national unity government, pray for me, my administration is committed to taking Kenya forward,’’ Ruto said in Nyandarua.
During the public meetings, the two leaders talk about peace and unity of Kenyans, insisting that Kenya has come of age and needs stability.
Gachagua has also used the meetings to reassure the president of his political support and loyalty.
The latest bromance could help build public confidence by showing a united front in the wake of the Generation Z revolution that threatened the government.
"Expect more public events attended by both the president and Gachagua in the coming weeks and months because unity is power,'' said an MP from Mt Kenya allied to Gachagua.
The politician said there were initial efforts by some people to wage war between the president and his deputy ''by design''.
Now, the two leaders are holding joint events to dispel concerns that their friendship was on the rocks, affirming they are working together.
The dissolution of the Cabinet appears to have given Gachagua some reprieve. The DP has backed the President’s decision to fire CSs.
“Mr President we support you 100 per cent in the steps you have taken to dissolve the cabinet to reconstitute it afresh and look for Cabinet Secretaries who will help you run the government," Gachagua said in Elgeyo Marakwet on Saturday.
"Ministers are not arrogant and boastful, ministers who will not engage in politics. Those will be there to assist you together with us to move the country forward. You get a good team that will create efficiency and harmony that will put the people of Kenya before their personal interests.”
Gachagua had in the past clashed with some CSs including Moses Kuria who served as minister for Public Service over the one man one shilling mantra.
Analysts allege that there had been clear signals that the president had fallen out with his deputy given the latter’s statements on some state officials.
Gachagua had called for the sacking of National Intelligence Service boss Noordin Haji alleging incompetence and claimed that Ruto’s allies were undermining him.
In an indication of thawed ties between Ruto and Gachagua, an activist who had filed a case over the DP's remarks on Haji withdrew the case.
Justice John Chigiti while withdrawing the matter on Monday considered the notice to withdraw the case by activist Fredrick Bikeri.
The matter had been listed for mention for further directions and a ruling date.
The DP made remarks that the Gen Z protests were a result of the failure of the government to heed the concerns of Kenyana, a claim that exposed the widening cracks with his boss amid claims that he had been denied military choppers.
However, over the last three days when Gachagua has accompanied Ruto, he had been flown in a military chopper.
National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah had claimed on the floor of the House that there was a new policy by the military against the use of their choppers due to costs.
The Kikuyu MP said that the majority of senior government officials had been locked out of access to military choppers in new stern measures set by the Ministry of Defence.
Ichung’wah said that Kenya Defence Forces wrote to senior government parastatals to commission them to share in their costs but some declined.
“Kenya Defence Forces has now made a policy decision that should any official want to use the military aircraft, it must be on request,’’ he said.