Rigathi Gachagua Wonders How CSs Were Late For State House Meeting: "I've Been Late Only Once"

• Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua subtly laughed at Cabinet Secretaries who were barred from state house meeting for arriving late
• Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria and his Interior Coordination counterpart Kithure Kindiki are among those who arrived late for the meeting
• Gachagua said that, since his appointment, he had just been late to one of President William Ruto's meetings and attributed it to a mix-up in communication

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has said that he can not fathom how Cabinet Secretaries (CSs) and Principal Secretaries could arrive late at an event presided over by President William Ruto.

State House performance contract signing

On Tuesday, August 1, two Cabinet Secretaries, Moses Kuria (Trade) and Kithure Kindiki (Interior Coordination) were locked out of a performance contract signing meeting that was being presided over by Ruto.

Speaking at state house on Tuesday, August 1, Gachagua said that the look on Ruto's face when some CSs arrived late at the meeting venue indicated that things would not go well for those who had not arrived as expected.

"Niliona watu pale wamechelewa, nikaona raisi, nikaona uso ya raisi nikajua hapa kimeumana. (I looked at those coming in late and looked at the president's face and knew things were not so good), " he said.

Late to William Ruto's meeting

The DP said he could not understand how the executive officers would be late for an important meeting like performance contract signing.

He said it was beyond explanation for a CS to arrive at a president's meeting late, questioning where else the executive officers could have gone to before attending their boss's meeting.

"There are things I don't understand. Personally, I value and take care of my job. Since you appointed me, I was late to your meeting all one day and it is you who confused me. You said you'll be in the airport at 8am, so as I left at 7:30am but you had left at 6:30am, it was embarrassing to find you seated," Gachagua said.

Rigathi Gachagua on lateness to Ruto's meeting

He said he was unable to explain why the president arrived ahead of him and rubbished the traffic jam excuse saying that the issue is not new and, therefore, the officers need to plan well.

"Those are things that when you sign these contracts you need to think about. From what I have today, we must work, even if you are the president's friends, the assessment is same for all of us," Gachagua said.

The happening at the State House got Kenyans online making fun of Cabinet Secretaries and Principal Secretaries that showed up late for the meeting.