Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua was all smiles on Monday after hosting a delegation from the Rift Valley region at his private residence in Nairobi on Monday morning.
Gachagua met a delegation of leaders from Turkana county, marking a significant shift from his recent focus on meeting Mt Kenya leaders.
The Turkana delegation, led by Lobei/Kotaruk MCA Hon. Anarclet Lemuya, included other local leaders such as Lokichar Ward MCA Hon. Samuel Lomodo, former Turkana CEC Peter Akono, and youth leader Julius Nakiru.
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Sharing details of the meeting on social media, Gachagua described the discussion as “candid, enlightening, and crucial,” focusing on both local development and national political inclusion.
“One of the key challenges we discussed is crude oil extraction in Turkana and whether the local people are truly benefiting from this resource. The need for fairness in natural resource management is a deep concern, and it’s vital that the people of Turkana have a strong voice in that conversation,” Gachagua wrote.
The meeting is being viewed as one of Gachagua’s rare engagements with leaders from outside the Mt Kenya region.
The former Deputy President also hinted at the growing political awakening in the region.
“We explored the political direction and future of the Turkana people. They are clearly seeking strong, representative leadership that prioritizes their needs on the national stage,” he added.
This meeting comes after a long stretch where Gachagua primarily hosted delegations from Mt Kenya at his Wamunyoro home.
His engagement with Turkana leaders signals a possible expansion of his political outreach, as he begins to build bridges with other regions ahead of the 2027 elections.
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Observers say this could be part of Gachagua’s strategy to raise his national profile and build alliances beyond his backyard, especially as Kenya’s political landscape continues to shift.
Whether this new direction will grow into a broader Rift Valley connection remains to be seen, but for now, Gachagua is clearly enjoying the moment — and the attention that comes with it.
By Kenyans