The incident involving the Statehouse media team being allegedly blocked by President William Ruto from sending Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s footage to media houses raises questions about the dynamics within Kenya’s political landscape.
While it is unclear if President Ruto’s actions were driven by concerns over Gachagua’s growing popularity, there could be several reasons for the move. One possibility is that the president’s media team controls and manages all official communications, including those involving the Deputy President, to maintain consistency and prevent unauthorized messaging that could cause confusion or harm the government’s image. Another reason could be internal power dynamics or differences in how the two leaders approach their roles and responsibilities.
However, if Ruto were concerned about Gachagua’s growing influence in the Nyanza and Western regions, this could point to an underlying tension. Popularity in key regions is crucial in Kenya’s political scene, where leaders often seek to solidify their support bases. Gachagua’s increasing prominence in these areas may be seen as a potential challenge to Ruto’s political strategy, especially as leaders prepare for future elections.
From the few videos circulating on social media platforms when Ruto invited his deputy Gachagua to speak and make his speech, he received warm welcome as people clapped, cheered and shouted his name. He is also seen with his “Murima” phrase telling Nyanza people that with him he has greetings from Murima people who are people of the Mountain and different from the tribal norm the people were happy to receive the greetings.
The blocking of the footage could be a tactical decision, either to maintain control over the narrative or to manage potential rivalry. Without more context or direct statements from Ruto and his team, it remains speculative. However, such actions do suggest that there may be more to the story than meets the eye.
