Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has called out critics who’ve raised issues about his penchant for speaking the Kikuyu language in public forums.
Gachagua pointed out that some ‘rich Nairobi people who haven’t endured suffering’ have been attacking him for using his mother tongue despite now being a national leader.
“They have been criticizing me for speaking in Kikuyu. They want me to speak in English, am I a white man?” he posed.
He was speaking in Wanjohi ward, Nyandarua county where he joined local leaders in offering relief assistance to residents on Saturday.
DP made it clear that he has no plans to stop using his mother tongue in public forums so as to appease his critics.
He noted that he is even ready to give up his seat if his choice of language ever becomes a problem.
“When I come to you people and avoid speaking Kikuyu, what else should I speak? If it comes to the point that if I speak Kikuyu I will lose this seat, it is okay so I can continue to speak my language,” he said.
He pointed out that he is a Kikuyu by birth and he is very proud of his language. The second in command also used the Saturday morning meeting to call for unity in the Mt Kenya region.
He asked local leaders to embrace unity and avoid being divided by leaders from other regions.
“Let’s love each other, let us be united and our affairs will continue being good,” he said.
The DP noted that he will never be ashamed of where he has come from as it will always be his home.
“I will never be ashamed of being from this community because even after I finish my work I shall return here.”
He went ahead to reveal that he has already acquired a piece of land in Ndaragwa which he plans to build so as to get closer to his people.
“You will be coming to check on me, bring me grievances and some farm products,” he told Nyandarua residents.
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