- A political firestorm is brewing on social media over a viral clip of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who questioned why Kikuyu students with high marks are being placed in distant schools.
- The firebrand politician, who comes from the populous Kikuyu community, condemned what he described as the systemic exclusion of local students from top-tier national schools.
- Kenya’s central region, a Kikuyu stronghold, is home to many of the nation’s elite schools, which draw bright students from every corner of the country.
- Kenyans on social media have criticized Hon. Gachagua for his latest tribal tirade during a local church service.
- Gachagua, who served as President Ruto’s deputy until his impeachment in October 2024, was ousted from power after the Senate upheld various charges against him, most notably tribalism.
Gachagua has maintained a fierce and unapologetic stance on the interests of the Mt. Kenya region, despite widespread accusations of promoting ethnic division.
“We have excellent schools in our region, including Alliance and Mang’u High, yet our top-performing children are being sent to inferior schools while students from elsewhere are brought to ours,” said Gachagua as he addressed residents in Central Kenya.
These remarks have sparked a backlash from Kenyans outside the central region, many of whom cited welcoming Kikuyu entrepreneurs who live and trade freely in their own communities.
While lauding his impeachment as a victory against tribalism, they challenged Gachagua and his supporters to reciprocate by embracing national inclusivity and opening up their region’s resources for the common good.
Below are some of the charged comments from Kenyan social media users:
“Once again, I ask: Is Gachagua normal?” posed Daniel Wahome on Facebook.
“On this one, he finds it convenient. How many Kikuyus do business in major towns across the counties?? SHOULD WE SEND THEM BACK TO KIKUYU LAND TO DO BUSINESS THERE? This is mediocrity, and he should style up. If I were him, I would appreciate a student who studies away from their hometown,” wrote @Jumaedwin04 on X.
Some defended his remarks, arguing that local students should not be sent to distant, ‘dilapidated’ schools mismanaged by other regional authorities.
These supporters claim that central Kenya leaders manage public resources more effectively, a sentiment that has been fiercely contested by some leaders, who cite an entrenched system of favoritism toward the Mt. Kenya region.
The national schools placement controversy adds yet another twist to Gachagua’s turbulent politics.
Since his impeachment, the former deputy president has remained a polarizing figure, frequently making headlines for combative statements that keep him in the public eye.
Critics argue that Gachagua’s latest remarks confirm the image of a leader unable to rise above identity politics and secure a broader national appeal.
