Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui has launched a scathing attack on former DP Rigathi Gachagua, labeling his appeal for the U.S. to arrest President William Ruto as “reckless” and “retrogressive.” Kinyanjui warned that dragging foreign powers into domestic political feuds undermines Kenya’s sovereignty and risks national stability
Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui has come out guns blazing against former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. The CS did not mince words, describing Gachagua’s recent call for the United States to intervene and arrest President William Ruto as a peak display of political naivety and greed.
The friction stems from Gachagua’s recent public appeal to Washington, urging U.S. authorities to investigate Kenya’s top leadership over alleged links to the infamous Minnesota fraud case.
Sovereignty
CS Kinyanjui, visibly perturbed by the move, argued that seeking foreign interference to settle local political scores is a “dangerous brand of politics” that threatens to destabilize the nation.
“This is not just about political differences anymore; it’s about the reckless destruction of Kenya’s international reputation,” Kinyanjui stated. He emphasized that investigations into financial impropriety belong to legal and constitutional authorities, not political podiums fueled by personal vendettas.
Viral Analogy: “A Child and the Father’s Testicles”
To drive home the gravity of Gachagua’s “overreach,” the CS employed a vivid and traditional African analogy that has since gone viral on social media.
“A child can play with its mother’s breast, but not its father’s testicles.”
The metaphor was used to illustrate that while political banter and domestic disagreements (the “mother’s breast”) are part of democracy, dragging the nation’s sovereignty and international relations into the mud (the “father’s testicles”) is a line that must never be crossed. Kinyanjui suggested that Gachagua is “playing with fire” by inviting external powers to arbitrate Kenyan internal affairs.
Minnesota Fraud Case Context
The Minnesota fraud case involves a massive COVID-19 relief scheme in the United States, where millions of dollars were siphoned. While Gachagua has attempted to link Kenyan leadership to these funds to trigger U.S. interest, CS Kinyanjui maintains that these are desperate attempts at “personal revenge” following Gachagua’s fallout with the current administration.
Key Points of Kinyanjui’s :
- Institutional Integrity: Accountability must be pursued through Kenya’s legal framework, not through foreign capitals.
- National Interest vs. Ego: Kinyanjui accused the former DP of prioritizing his “private grievances” over the welfare of 50 million Kenyans.
- Diplomatic Fallout: The CS warned that such utterances could harm Kenya’s standing with global partners, making the country appear unstable.
Retrogressive Politics
The CS concluded his statement by calling for a return to “wisdom and restraint.” He noted that the growing culture of personal vendettas overshadowing national interests is a recipe for disaster.
“Leaders must grow up,” Kinyanjui remarked. “The country’s credibility and governance must never be sacrificed at the altar of personal ambition.”
As the political heat rises, the question remains: will Gachagua’s gamble for international attention pay off, or has he alienated himself further by “playing with the father’s testicles”?
