Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has revisited his political fallout with President William Ruto through a striking leopard analogy, claiming former President Uhuru Kenyatta had warned him about the consequences of trusting the wrong political partner.
Speaking at a memorial service in Nairobi, Gachagua urged residents of the Mt Kenya region to take advice from experienced leaders seriously, suggesting that his own political experience taught him a lesson he wishes he had understood earlier.
Highlights
- Gachagua recalled a warning allegedly given to him by former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
- He used a leopard-and-sheep analogy to describe his political experience.
- The former Deputy President urged Mt Kenya residents to listen to senior regional leaders.
- He credited the late Beatrice Wambui Muturi with mentoring him in entrepreneurship.
- Kabete MP Isaac Kiragu called for political tolerance and national unity.
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Gachagua Revisits Uhuru’s Leopard Warning
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has urged the Mt Kenya community to pay attention to guidance from experienced political figures, using a personal story involving former President Uhuru Kenyatta to drive his message home.
Speaking during the requiem mass of the late Beatrice Wambui Muturi at PCEA Nairobi West Church, Gachagua narrated a story about a leopard that Uhuru allegedly warned him against trusting.
According to Gachagua, the former Head of State had cautioned him about working with someone he symbolically referred to as a leopard, warning that the animal would eventually turn against him after finishing off his sheep.
Gachagua admitted that he did not agree with the warning at the time.
However, he claimed that subsequent events followed the pattern Uhuru had described.
He explained that the leopard initially attacked the smaller sheep before eventually turning against him, leaving him injured and struggling.
Using the metaphor to reflect on his political journey, Gachagua suggested that the experience had taught him the importance of recognising warning signs and listening to those with greater political experience.
Gachagua Invokes Mama Ngina’s Advice
The former Deputy President also brought Mama Ngina Kenyatta into his message, referencing a warning attributed to the former First Lady’s motherly counsel.
He challenged the congregation to consider the difference between making an initial mistake and repeatedly ignoring lessons from previous experiences.
Gachagua then encouraged Mt Kenya residents to reflect on the message and take seriously the advice offered by their regional leaders.
Although he did not directly name the political figure represented by the leopard in his story, his remarks appeared to revisit his troubled political relationship with President William Ruto.
The analogy offered another glimpse into how Gachagua interprets the political events that led to his fallout with the President.
Gachagua Remembers Late Business Mentor
Away from politics, Gachagua also used the occasion to celebrate his relationship with the late Beatrice Wambui Muturi.
He described himself as someone who prefers peaceful political engagement and recalled the important role the deceased played in his personal and business development.
According to Gachagua, Muturi was among the people who guided him in entrepreneurship and helped shape his understanding of business.
He credited her mentorship with contributing significantly to his property investments across the country.
The former Deputy President also remembered her elegant lifestyle, particularly her preference for driving a Mercedes-Benz.
His tribute painted a picture of a relationship that extended beyond public engagements, with Muturi having played a significant role in his business journey.
Kabete MP Calls for Political Tolerance
Kabete MP Isaac Kiragu also addressed mourners, remembering Muturi as a woman who remained committed to supporting her family even when circumstances became difficult.
Kiragu praised her determination and described her as someone who consistently stood by her loved ones during challenging moments.
He also used the gathering to remind political leaders that their differences should never come at the expense of national stability.
The MP urged politicians to conduct their activities responsibly, emphasising that Kenya’s peace should remain a priority regardless of political affiliations.
He reminded leaders that political positions and individual ambitions are temporary, while the country must continue to exist beyond their personal journeys.
The remarks added a message of reconciliation to a gathering that had also become an opportunity for Gachagua to reflect on his political experiences.
As conversations around leadership and the future of the Mt Kenya region continue, Gachagua’s leopard analogy has placed the importance of political advice, trust and past decisions back in the spotlight.
Political alliances may change, but the lessons they leave behind often last much longer. For Gachagua, the leopard story is a reminder that sometimes the warnings people dismiss are the very ones they remember most.
