Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has made a startling claim during a live televised interview on Inooro, stating that his late brother, former Nyeri Governor Nderitu Gachagua, was allegedly killed by powerful coffee cartels. This comes as a surprising revelation, as the family had previously attributed the governor’s death to pancreatic cancer. Nderitu Gachagua passed away on February 24, 2017, while undergoing treatment at a London hospital.
In his interview, Gachagua asserted that his brother’s health deteriorated as a result of being poisoned by these influential coffee cartels. He described these cartels as well-connected and insidious entities that have managed to manipulate state officials to exploit coffee farmers and withhold their rightful earnings. According to Gachagua, his late brother’s health declined significantly after he declared a war on the cartels. The alleged retaliatory action taken by the cartels involved blocking Kenyan coffee overseas, which subsequently incited local communities against the governor.
Gachagua vowed to take on the cartels himself, alongside President William Ruto, as they have no personal interests in the sector and consider themselves to be incorruptible. He expressed concern about the cartels’ power and influence, claiming that even cabinet secretaries and government agencies have been unable to tackle them due to their nefarious schemes. Gachagua revealed that he was assigned the responsibility of dealing with the cartels after they unsuccessfully attempted to bribe Mithika Linturi, the appointed Agriculture docket official, with a sum of 30 million Kenyan Shillings.
Moreover, Gachagua disclosed that he had ordered increased security measures for Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire after she publicly identified some of the cartels involved in exploiting farmers. He emphasized that this ongoing war against the cartels could only be won by him and President Ruto, as they possess sufficient security and cannot be corrupted.
Prior to the interview, Gachagua had informed local vernacular stations in Meru that he had been approached by the cartels with a 7 billion Kenyan Shillings proposal, which he declined. He expressed his satisfaction with prioritizing the welfare of farmers over personal political gain, stating that even if the cartels were to bribe the electorate and cost him votes in the 2027 elections, he would be content as long as the farmers benefited financially.
Gachagua affirmed the unwavering determination of the Kenya Kwanza regime to triumph in this war against the cartels, acknowledging that it would not be an easy battle.