Rigathi Gachagua and Jimmy Wanjigi (Facebook Photo)
Jimmy Wanjigi has been seen a couple of times recently conferring with former Deputy President Rīgathī Gachagua. And people are wondering: Could they be planning something political?
According to Willis Otieno, Safina Party’s deputy leader, it is understandable that Wanjīgī could discuss politics with Gachagua. Wanjīgī is the Safina Party flag bearer and wanted to run for presidency under the party in 2022.
For starters, Otieno says, the Mt. Kenya votes are crucial to the success of any 2027 Presidential candidate. The leaders also acknowledge the need to have a compromise candidate for residents to vote for as a block. Hence discussions among prominent Kikuyu leaders is expected.
Economy in Shambles under Ruto
Mr. Jimmy Wanjīgī has always pointed out the deteriorating economy as one of President Ruto’s failures. He says the president continues to overburden the citizens and future generations with debt, even as daily living standards drop.
Gachagua as well criticizes President Ruto’s economic strategy, saying it has impoverished Kenyans. He emphasizes that were it not for his efforts as deputy president and earlier as MP, coffee farmers would still be suffering.
Therefore, the economy is one issue Wanjigi and Gachagua might have discussed.
According to Otieno, under the presidency of Jimmy Wanjigi, Safina would scrap Value Added Tax (VAT) and replace it with Sales Tax. That would mean levying tax only on the final product. This is as opposed to taxing a product severally along the value chain.
There are other economic measures Wanjīgī speaks about, indicating that Safina would focus on creating a favourable business environment.
In fact, Wanjigi has consistently criticized the Kenyan debt situation, saying it is unhealthy for Kenya. Recently, he pointed out that Kenya is set to pay debt to the extent of sh.2.3 trillion this year alone. Interestingly, he said that if Safina takes over Kenya’s leadership, they will not pay that debt.
Jimmy Wanjigi Agrees on One-term for Ruto
Wanjīgī and Gachagua both agree that Kenya cannot afford a second term of President Ruto. Hence, the two may just have been brainstorming on the best way to defeat Ruto in 2027.
After the opposition’s famed Ol Kalou political win, Gachagua and Wanjīgī met. That meeting is the most recent to catch public attention.
Could the two have discussed the lessons learnt from the by-election? Could they have discussed political financing? So far, what the two have discussed in their private meetings remains so.
Yet the public knows that besides being an aspiring presidential candidate, Jimmy Wanjigi is a billionaire. Hence, he is capable of sponsoring a presidential candi6date if he chooses.
Nevertheless, the Ol Kalou by-election showed that even an adage can be negated. “He who pays the piper calls the tune”, they say. Yet showering Ol Kalou residents with money and gifts did not make them vote the government way.
Even Jimmy Wanjigi’s deputy party leader, Willis Otieno has reiterated that money will not influence the 2027 voting.
In short, the 2027 general election will be different. It will require serious consultations not pegged on funding; substantive consultations based on mutual respect.. And Jimmy Wanjīgī knows it.