Rigathi Gachagua Meets William Ruto's Confidant Oscar Sudi Amid Claims Of Rift With His Boss

• Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has toured President William Ruto's political stronghold amid reports of internal conflicts within the ruling Kenya Kwanza Alliance
• The DP has not dispelled rumours of a rift but has instead fueled them by calling on retired president Uhuru Kenyatta to join him in reuniting Mt Kenya
• Photos of Gachagua meeting Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi, a close confidant of Ruto, surfaced, potentially easing tensions within the ruling party

Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Uasin Gishu - Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is in President William Ruto's political bastion.

Gachagua's visit comes amid reports of the ruling Kenya Kwanza Alliance rocking from within.

The second in command hasn't moved to put the speculations to rest and, on the contrary, has fuelled the rumours.

For the first time, Gachagua has been on record as turning to his former boss turned foe, retired president Uhuru Kenyatta, to join him in reuniting Mt Kenya.

His close allies from Mt Kenya have also claimed that the president and his handlers have been mistreating the DP.

Why did Rigathi meet Sudi?

Amidst the uncertainty within the ruling party, photos of the DP and Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi have emerged.

The images might quell uneasiness in some quarters with the ruling party due to Sudi's close ties with the head of state.

Since his ascension to power, Sudi has emerged as one of Ruto's confidants, and their ties go beyond politics.

In a post on Friday, May 24, the lawmaker welcomed the DP, revealing that he's on a tour of Ruto's political base.

"I welcome Deputy President H.E. Rigathi Gachagua, EGH to our great county of Uasin Gishu as he plans to tour the county from today. Karibu sana Riggy G," he wrote.

Gachagua's close aide accuses State House officials of bullying DP

Elsewhere, Gachagua's close aide, Gilbert Kiptalam alias GK Malema, accused certain state house officials of being behind the tribulations facing the deputy president.

Malema said Ruto must crack the whip on his staff and political allies' demeaning and bullying behaviour towards Gachagua.

He accused State House officials of fostering discord between the president and his deputy through social media platforms.

Malema alleged that Itumbi had instructed all State House bloggers to avoid posting about Gachagua since the 2022 elections, despite the deputy president's bloggers promoting content for the president.

Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura Guthua, journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke