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Rigathi Gachagua

DATE OF BIRTH


1965

GENDER


Male

OCCUPATION


Businessman, Politician

FAMILY


Married. Brother to late former Nyeri Governor Nderitu Gachagua.

BIOGRAPHY


Education: Early learning at Kabiruini Primary School. O- Levels and A-Levels at Kianyaga High School. He has a Bachelor of Arts Degree; Political Science and Literature from University of Nairobi where he studied between 1985 and 1988. After that, he did Paramilitary Training at the Administration Police Institute in 1990.  He did an Advanced Public Administration Course at Kenya School of Government between 1999 and 2000. 

Early career: He worked in the Office of the President as a District Officer Cadet from 1990. He then rose to Personal Assistant to the Head of Public Service in 1991. He served as District Officer In charge of Ng’arua Division, Laikipia District from 1997 to 1999.

He served as Uhuru Kenyatta's Personal Assistant when he was Minister for Local Government. For four years between 2002 and 2006, Rigathi Gachagua was the custodian of Uhuru Kenyatta’s diary as his PA. As a Kanu presidential candidate in 2002, Mr Kenyatta travelled with Mr Gachagua throughout the country.

Mr Gachagua was the Mathira Constituency Member of Parliament between 2017 and 2022, when he ran for Deputy President as William Ruto's running mate on a UDA ticket. Dr Ruto and Mr Gachagua won the 2022 Presidential election and served as President and Deputy President respectively. 

However, on October 17, 2024, Senators voted to uphold his impeachment by MPs, effectively removing him from office.

Latest articles on Rigathi Gachagua:

  1. PREMIUM Key meetings, donor talks lined up as Gachagua begins US political tour

    DCP leader to officially commence public phase of his political engagements in the US.

    Rigathi Gachagua
  2. PREMIUM Party indiscipline: Defections with no consequences

    On paper, they remain members of their sponsor parties, but in public, they have switched camps.

    Irungu Kang'ata and Rigathi Gachagua
  3. PREMIUM Ruto's new Mt Kenya comeback offensive: Can he win it back?

    Ruto has stepped up efforts to reclaim the restive Mt Kenya voting bloc.

    President William Ruto addresses Chuka residents
  4. PREMIUM Uhuru, Raila, Gachagua.....Ruto’s changing enemy when things go south

    The enemy has no single name He is everywhere, looming near and large, but wearing a uniform that remotely identifies as Kenyatta.

  5. PREMIUM Makau Mutua: Dissecting Kenya’s goon politics

    Democracies must deal with goons, or the goons will deal with them.

    Goons
  6. PREMIUM Irungu Kang'ata: Pronouns reveal how leaders really govern

    A citizen struggling with unemployment does not need a 20-page explanation of structural transformation.

    Politician
  7. PREMIUM Gachagua’s US retreat: Rest, strategy and millions for 2027

    Mr Gachagua had earlier disclosed that DCP has a nominations budget of Sh4 billion.

  8. PREMIUM Kenya’s most expensive election: The billions behind 2027 power struggle

    The 2027 election could cost Sh272 billion when IEBC preparations and campaign spending are combined.

    Ol Kalou voters
  9. Kindiki: I’m no pushover, DP seat is mine

    Kindiki tells ODM to forget DP position as he declares he will defend it in 2027.

    Kithure Kindiki
  10. IEBC fires back at Gachagua over 2027 polls technology tender

    Gachagua accused politicians of buying a property for IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon.

  11. PREMIUM Stalemate: United Opposition retreat ends without deal on key coalition disputes

    The meeting did not reach an agreement on the name of the coalition.

    Opposition
  12. PREMIUM Kings without a kingdom: Opposition chiefs losing MPs to defections

    Partner parties in the opposition are poaching each other’s elected leaders.

    Opposition leaders
  13. PREMIUM Scramble for Maa: Ruto, Gachagua race to fill Raila void

    Ruto is wooing the region through major infrastructure development while Gachagua is positioning himself as the champion of Maa land rights and interests.

    William Ruto
  14. PREMIUM Pressure mounts on Mt Kenya West to return favour to East in 2027, 2032

    Having supported Mt Kenya West for decades, the East now wants the favour returned.

    Kithure Kindiki and Rigathi Gachagua
  15. PREMIUM How Gachagua’s DCP is eating into Uhuru's Jubilee support

    All three Jubilee-elected MPs in Nairobi have said they will be defending their seats on DCP.

    Nation inside - 2025-10-01T094828.136
  16. Women MPs hit out at Gachagua over utterances

    'A woman does not surrender her dignity because she enters politics...' — Esther Passaris, Nairobi Woman Representative.

    DNGACHAGUAELBURGON1508r
  17. Ruto defends foreign trips in South Rift tour

    President Ruto lists his administration's achievements in Narok tour.

    New Content Item (1)
  18. Rigathi Gachagua: DCP hatutaki mambo ya zoning

    Rigathi Gachagua
  19. Benjamin Wafula: The revolving door that is Kenya’s deputy presidency

    Kenya has experienced its fair share of fall-outs between presidents and their deputies.

    Kithure Kindiki
  20. Gachagua: IEBC election tech deal ‘tailor-made’ for Korean firm

    DCP leader claims results transmission system deal was designed for a specific company and promises to reveal details.

    Rigathi Gachagua