In what started as a political bromance, President William Ruto and DP Rigathi Gachagua have enjoyed a cordial relationship ever since they assumed office on September 13th, 2022. Even before the 2022 general election, choosing Rigathi Gachagua as the DP was a good strategy. His main role was to attack and silence former president Uhuru Kenyatta. He did that homework well, thanks to his abrasive style of doing politics. The duo had a good relationship for the better part of last year, and the optics could not lie. This could be seen as the DP used to accompany the president in different functions. Other times, he could escort the head of state whenever he was jetting out of the country. If this is anything to go by, it is evident that they were reading from the same script. When Did the Rain Start Beating DP Rigathi Gachagua? Things started getting tough for DP Rigathi Gachagua this year when a section of Mount Kenya leaders debated who could deputize the head of state in 2027. Some leaders, led by Murang’a senator Joe Nyutu, recommended Honorable Ndindi Nyoro, Kiharu MP, to deputize President William Ruto in 2027. This can be attributed to the fact that Ndindi Nyoro is seen as one of the powerbrokers in UDA and a very close ally of President William Ruto. Later, DP Gachagua apologized to former president Uhuru Kenyatta and his family for badmouthing them before and after the 2022 general election. Remember that DP Rigathi Gachagua was a fierce critic of former president Uhuru Kenyatta. DP’s Damascus moment shocked many across the political circles. This sudden change of mind might have made President William Ruto change his strategy for his DP, Rigathi Gachagua. DP Rigathi Gachagua Uhuru Kenyatta alongside Mama Ngina Kenyatta. During the recently held tree-planting event, DP Rigathi Gachagua was conspicuously missing. He did not go to Bomet County as expected, where he was supposed to lead the tree planting process. The tree-planting event is among the 11 state functions he should have attended alongside the head of state. During all this while, his phone was off, and Kenyans started asking about the whereabouts of the second in command. After being away for a whole week, DP Rigathi Gachagua appeared on May 21st, 2024 in Endarasha Catholic Church, situated in Kieni constituency. He said that he had taken time to meditate, pray, and fast for Kenya inside Mt. Kenya. Since then, the DP has been in the limelight. He is often seen alone or accompanying the president during state functions such as the Madaraka Day event in Bungoma County. Who is Against Gachagua, and Will the Center Hold? DP Rigathi Gachagua is facing fierce opposition from the UDA party. Some of President William Ruto’s key allies are against the ‘one man, one vote, one shilling’ debate led by the second in command. Apart from Nyeri’s leadership and a few UDA leaders, the rest seem to antagonize DP Rigathi Gachagua. Perhaps this is why he has spearheaded unity talks in the Mt. Kenya region. With the dalliance between President William Ruto and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi growing by the day, DP Rigathi Gachagua must play his cards well not to undergo humiliation like his boss during former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s second term. With Opposition Supremo Raila Odinga backing the ‘one man, one vote, one shilling’ push, a lot is bound to change politically. In the coming days, DP Rigathi Gachagua may find a new set of political friends. Watch this space!
Will One Man, One Vote, One Shilling Become a Reality Soon?
The debate about ‘one man, one vote, one shilling’ has caused jitters among the country’s top political class. In a move that surprised many, DP Rigathi Gachagua revived this debate on Sunday, 12th May 2024, arguing that he is a proponent of the one-man-one-vote-one shilling mantra as resources are all about the people. He added, ‘ The more you are, the more taxes you pay.’ Therefore, it is obvious that the more taxes a certain populace pays, the higher the amount they are bound to get. This discussion has rattled many, including the head of state. President William Ruto believes that resources should be distributed to all regions of the country, regardless of the number of people who reside there. With DP Rigathi Gachagua reading from a different script from his boss, questions linger on whether this revenue-sharing formula will ever become a reality. DP Rigathi Gachagua One Man, One Vote, One Shilling Explained Regarding the distribution of natural resources, some counties in Kenya feel more marginalized than others. For instance, those counties within the Mt. Kenya region, such as Kiambu, Nyeri, Murang’a, and Kirinyaga, have been receiving a small amount of money compared to the number of people who inhabit those regions. The situation worsens when a constituency such as Ruiru, which has 800000 people, obtains the same amount of Constituency Development Fund as Lamu, which has about 14000 people. If the population size were to be considered, constituencies with more people would receive as much. That way, such constituencies could offer bursaries of higher amounts than the current amount they usually offer. This amount usually ranges between Ksh 2000 and Ksh 5000 per child. Additionally, this fund could finance different projects within the Mt.Kenya region. Back then, this revenue distribution formula was captured in the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI). Former President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga led BBI. Unfortunately, the BBI was declared unconstitutional by the court, further thwarting the efforts to bring about Ksh.54 billion more in the Mt. Kenya counties and about Ksh.100 million and Ksh.300 million per constituency. Former President Uhuru Kenyatta What is the Fate of One Man, One Vote, One Shilling Revenue Sharing Formula? Now that there is a new push for the One Man One Vote One Shilling revenue distribution formula, led by DP Rigathi Gachagua, there is hope that it will become a reality one day. In addition, since this mantra was one of those critical points discussed in the Limuru III meeting held on 17th May 2024, the discourse about this revenue-sharing formula is bound to change. On 6th June 2024, Azimio chief Raila Odinga threw his political weight behind the ‘one man, one vote one shilling’ push. That move alone surprised many political leaders in the ruling party and opposition alike. To make the ‘One Man One Vote One Shilling’ mantra a reality, DP Rigathi Gachagua needs to rally MPs from his political party to back the bill. On the other hand, Azimio Supremo Raila Odinga is likely to do the same. If this happens, we might eventually bid goodbye to the ‘one man, one kilometer, one shilling’ revenue-sharing formula. Note that the latter has been in use since the promulgation of the new constitution in 2010.