KENYA: Gachagua Revises Earlier Claims, Admits Kenya Kwanza Found Some Funds In Treasury

By Lisbeth Micheni, Kenya 

Kenyan former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has backtracked on his previous assertion that the Kenya Kwanza government inherited a completely depleted Treasury when it took over in 2022.

Speaking during a recent interview with media personality, Oga Obinna, Gachagua acknowledged that although the financial situation was tight, the new administration did not start from absolute zero.

He said there were sufficient funds to support the basic functioning of government operations.

“There wasn’t an overflow of cash, but the available resources were enough to keep the country running,” Gachagua noted, signaling a significant change from his initial harsh assessment of the economic state left behind by the previous administration.

When Kenya Kwanza assumed office in September 2022, Gachagua had made a dramatic statement during the inauguration, claiming the incoming leadership found the national coffers empty.

He went as far as saying there wasn’t “even a rat” in the account, a remark that painted a dire picture of the economy under former President Uhuru Kenyatta.

At the time, Gachagua blamed the Kenyatta administration for widespread mismanagement and high inflation, suggesting the country would have to rebuild its economy from the ground up.

His recent comments, however, tell a different story indicating that some financial resources were available to facilitate governance, even if the situation was far from ideal.

The shift in narrative has sparked speculation about Gachagua’s political intentions. Analysts believe the change may be part of his strategy to boost his influence in the Mt. Kenya region.

He recently unveiled the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), which he aims to use to rally support and consolidate regional backing ahead of future political contests.