Publicly confessing on Monday in Nairobi that he nearly slapped the President, Rigathi Gachagua did more than share a personal anecdote. He exposed a troubling mindset that fundamentally disrespected the office he was sworn to serve.
Leadership at the highest level is not measured by confrontation, anger, or ego, but by discipline, restraint, and respect for institutions. Gachagua’s admission revealed a dangerous lack of all three.
The presidency is not a personal platform for emotional outbursts. It is a sacred constitutional office that represents the unity, dignity, and stability of Kenya.
When Gachagua claims he nearly slapped William Ruto, and even expresses regret that he did not, he is not demonstrating strength. He is admitting to conduct that would have desecrated the highest office in the land and plunged the country into institutional embarrassment.
Such reckless thinking has no place in national leadership. The role of deputy president is to support, strengthen, and protect the presidency, not to undermine it through hostility and personal confrontation. Disagreements are normal in government, but they must be handled with maturity and respect for constitutional order. By glorifying confrontation, Gachagua revealed that he viewed leadership as a personal power struggle rather than a solemn national duty.
His confession also sheds light on the confusion and instability that defined his tenure. Instead of reinforcing unity at the top, he fostered tension, division, and uncertainty within government. His conduct eroded the dignity of the office he held and weakened public confidence in leadership.
Ultimately, Gachagua’s own words confirm what his impeachment already demonstrated: he lacked the temperament, judgment, and respect required of a deputy president. His removal was not persecution, but the inevitable consequence of conduct unworthy of the office.
