Rigathi Gachagua Grilled By Gen Zs On U.S. Tour Over Divisive Politics

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua encountered an unexpectedly unbending audience during his recent tour of the United States, forcing him to confront tough questions about his political approach. During an engagement with Kenyans in Baltimore on July 27, Gachagua faced a nail-biting situation as young attendees rigorously grilled him on his political agenda ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Valentine Wanjiru Githae, identifying herself as a representative of the youth-led “625 Movement,” directly challenged Gachagua on what she described as his divisive rhetoric, particularly concerning the advancement of the Kikuyu community.

“If we position ourselves as Kikuyus, another tribe will also do that, and before we know it, we are back to the same problem. We cannot say that people from other tribes are not hardworking. We have that sense of entitlement as Kikuyus, and it has to stop,” Githae asserted.

She pressed Gachagua further on his “mountain narrative,” questioning its relevance to the younger generation:

“If we GenZs don’t understand the mountain narrative, how are you going to engage us and find a way to position this politics beyond the ‘Wantam’ narrative? The politics being done now is the way it was done 20 years ago and that is what is scaring us.”

In response, Gachagua maintained his stance, stating his belief that there is a “persecution and discrimination” against Kenyans from the Mt. Kenya region, necessitating swift action to protect them. He then attempted to align with the youth, asserting that Gen Zs are a formidable, “tribeless and fearless” force who “will help us deal with that nonsense.”

The former Deputy President also faced scrutiny from another young man who questioned his trustworthiness, given his previous staunch defense of the government before his impeachment. This direct challenge underscored the deep skepticism among some youth regarding his political consistency and leadership.