NAIROBI – Jubilee Party Vice-Chairman David Murathe on Friday, November 7, 2025, disclosed details of a private meeting with Rigathi Gachagua that took place in the turbulent days leading up to the then-Deputy President's impeachment in October 2024. Speaking at a book launch in Nairobi, Murathe, a former fierce critic of Gachagua, recounted a conversation that sheds new light on the intense pressure Gachagua faced as his relationship with President William Ruto publicly disintegrated.

According to Murathe, Gachagua expressed deep frustration with the administration, foretelling a moment of personal defiance. "The last time I met Riggy G was in a private place, and he told me, 'If these people continue to frustrate me, you will see me at the airport going on official government duty as the Deputy President carrying my own suitcase'," Murathe revealed to the audience.

This statement later materialized in September 2024, when Gachagua was pictured at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) carrying his own luggage, an act widely interpreted as a symbolic protest against his treatment by the State. The incident triggered a significant public and political debate at the time.

A Fractured Presidency

The disclosure provides an insider's perspective into the final weeks of Gachagua's tenure, which was marked by escalating tensions within the executive. By September 2024, the rift between President Ruto and his deputy was an open secret, with allies of the President publicly criticising Gachagua. The impeachment motion, officially tabled by Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse, accused Gachagua of 11 charges, including gross misconduct, corruption, and inciting ethnic divisions.

The process moved swiftly, culminating in the National Assembly voting overwhelmingly to impeach him on October 8, 2024. The Senate subsequently upheld five of the charges on October 17, 2024, making Gachagua the first deputy president in Kenyan history to be removed from office through impeachment. Gachagua himself has since alleged that he was given several offers by President Ruto to resign before the impeachment, which he declined.

Political Realignment for 2027

Murathe's revelation, made over a year after the impeachment, is politically significant. His shift from a staunch critic to an apparent confidant and supporter underscores the fluid nature of Kenyan political alliances ahead of the 2027 general election. During the same event, Murathe praised the former Deputy President's resilience and political acumen, suggesting he is a suitable candidate to lead a united opposition front.

This aligns with recent political developments. Following his ouster, Gachagua has been actively building new alliances. He has held meetings with key opposition figures, and on October 30, 2025, Murathe confirmed that the Jubilee Party, led by former President Uhuru Kenyatta, is firmly aligned with a Gachagua-led united opposition coalition. This new formation appears poised to challenge President Ruto's administration.

The context of Murathe's disclosure—at a public event attended by political figures—suggests a calculated move to reshape the narrative around Gachagua's removal from office, portraying him as a principled official who stood against immense pressure. For Kenyans, it offers a glimpse into the high-stakes power struggles that defined the first years of the Ruto presidency and sets the stage for a contentious political battle in the run-up to 2027.