How Rigathi Gachagua’s Hotel Room Was Bugged
In a startling revelation, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua recently disclosed that his hotel room was bugged during a recent visit to Kisumu, raising concerns about security breaches within the government.
Gachagua spent the day touring the Nyanza region alongside his boss, President William Ruto.
This marked the first occasion that the two Kenya Kwanza leaders were warmly welcomed in the lakeside city since the contentious 2022 General Election. The improved relations with their main opponent, Raila Odinga, the region’s influential figure, contributed to the positive reception.
After a long day of making campaign stops, Mr. Gachagua found an ideal hotel to relax for the night.
With a stunning view of Lake Victoria and overlooking Kisumu city, the hotel’s presidential suite offered a luxurious way to conclude a busy day.
This wasn’t Gachagua’s first visit to this upscale hotel. In January, the hotel shared a photo on its X account featuring Gachagua alongside General Manager Shanawaz Basheer.
We had the honor of hosting H.E Rigathi Gachagua the Deputy President of Kenya at #AcaciaPremierHotel! H.E was welcomed by our General Manager Shanawaz Basheer. A true testament to the excellence we strive to provide for all our guests. pic.twitter.com/Nrzq7b869a— Acacia Premier Hotel (@acaciapremier) January 14, 2023
This evening, the Deputy President was accompanied by a Member of Parliament from the Rift Valley, who is regarded as an ally of Gachagua, having supported him during discussions about the Deputy President’s potential impeachment in July.
The MP, serving his second term, had positioned himself as a defender of Gachagua within the Rift Valley.
In the previous election, this MP had campaigned against Dr. Ruto but was fortunate enough to win the parliamentary seat, defeating the candidate endorsed by the President.
The MP spent several hours with Gachagua in his presidential suite at the hotel.
They engaged in what they believed was a private conversation, only to later discover that someone had been eavesdropping on them.
The day before Gachagua’s arrival, a team of security and protocol officers had already secured the hotel room.
Security Evaluation
The advance team, responsible for preparations ahead of the president and his deputy, had completed all necessary arrangements, including a security evaluation of the hotel where the VIP would be staying.
The Presidential suite was reserved for Gachagua, while other VIPs and security personnel were assigned to rooms both above and below his suite.
This security setup was designed to ensure the Deputy President was protected from all angles. Hours prior to Gachagua’s arrival, a trusted security aide reportedly conducted a routine inspection of the suite.
The aide sought confirmation from the head of the advance team regarding whether the room had been thoroughly vetted before the VIP’s arrival.
He was assured that all security protocols, including the debugging of the room, had been properly executed.
That night, Gachagua and a close associate reportedly engaged in lengthy discussions until the Member of Parliament, who was also staying at the hotel, retired to his own room, according to sources familiar with the situation.
Unbeknownst to Gachagua, individuals outside his room were receiving detailed updates on the conversations taking place in the presidential suite.
This recorded dialogue has now become central to the conflict between the Deputy President and his superior.
On Sunday, following his discharge from Karen Hospital, Mr. Gachagua claimed that agents from the National Intelligence Service had entered his room in Kisumu on August 30.
He suspects this was an assassination attempt. “Undercover police accessed my room on August 30, but we caught on to it. Again, on September 3 in Nyeri, there was an attempt to poison me,” Gachagua stated.
The Nation attempted to reach the MP for a comment but had yet to receive a response via text or WhatsApp.
A senior government official, a staunch supporter of Gachagua, revealed to the Nation that the existence of the secret recordings was first disclosed during a meeting involving some religious leaders who convened with President Ruto at State House, Nairobi, to promote peace ahead of potential impeachment proceedings in Parliament.
This official, who wished to remain anonymous, stated that President Ruto had indicated he possessed evidence suggesting his deputy was acting independently.
While the President did not provide specifics about the recordings, attendees at the meeting speculated that they consisted of conversations between the Deputy President and other individuals.
Last week, Nyeri Governor Kahiga Mutahi confirmed to the Nation that some religious leaders had indeed met with President Ruto at State House to facilitate reconciliation between the Deputy President and his superior.
Rescue Gachagua
Mr. Mutahi refrained from providing further comments on the situation but indicated that he had reached out to multiple MPs from the Central region to assist in preventing Gachagua’s impeachment.
On Sunday, Gema Chairperson Bishop Lawi Imathiu confirmed his visit to the President at State House in August, emphasizing that the GEMA delegation only discussed the Gen Z protest with the President.
Following the meeting at State House, the GEMA officials stated: “During our discussion, the GEMA leadership openly addressed several issues with the President, who welcomed us warmly.”
The GEMA statement urged leaders from Mt. Kenya not to support Gachagua’s impeachment.
On Sunday, October 20, Imathiu informed the Nation that GEMA was still seeking another meeting with the President to discuss Gachagua’s impeachment.
“We have not yet received a date for our meeting with the President. We’ve been informed that he is busy and that State House will notify us when he becomes available,” Bishop Imathiu stated in a phone call with the Nation.
Another attendee of the State House meeting, who wished to remain anonymous, shared with the Nation that the President had hinted at the existence of secret recordings.
Following the completion of the Nyanza tour and the surfacing of the secret conversations, the relationship between the Deputy President and the President soured. The situation escalated the following week when, during a visit to Kirinyaga County, the helicopter carrying the Deputy President was ordered back to Nairobi shortly after landing.
“We had to find alternative transportation after the KDF helicopter left us in Kirinyaga,” remarked an official close to Gachagua.
Numerous meetings have taken place between religious leaders and the President to mend the rift between the Deputy President and the President.
A group of clergymen, who are connected to both Gachagua and the President, sought an audience with the President at State House in Nairobi last week.
The most recent Sunday meeting at State House was part of ongoing efforts by church officials to reconcile the President with his deputy.
On that Sunday, Gachagua expressed his apologies to the President and Members of Parliament, stating that he never intended to disappoint anyone.
Misunderstandings
In a follow-up speech on Monday, he emphasized that his apology to his superior was not an admission of guilt but an effort to resolve any potential misunderstandings that may have occurred unintentionally.
During a lengthy media interview at the Deputy President’s residence in Karen, Mr. Gachagua stated that President Ruto has never indicated any wrongdoing on his part.
“I want to clarify that my apology to President William Ruto didn’t mean that I am guilty. It was in no way an acknowledgment of these absurd accusations aimed at undermining the will of the people,” he said.
“It was simply a gesture to seek forgiveness in case I inadvertently did something that upset him,” he added.
Prior to the President’s call, which made it clear that he was not inclined to assist Gachagua, the Deputy President had received feedback from clergymen who met with the President at State House.
The clergy involved in attempting to mediate peace between the Deputy President and his superior were primarily from evangelical churches, including prominent figures like Archbishop James Ole Sapit of the ACK Church, Catholic Bishop Anthony Muheria, and SDA leader Samson Nyaberi.
Lawyer Danstan Omari, representing Nyaberi, who has filed a lawsuit challenging the public participation process concerning Gachagua’s removal, stated: “There have been concerted efforts by various church leaders to promote peace between the Deputy President and the President, but these attempts have been unsuccessful.”
Omari mentioned that church leaders had made several efforts to reconcile the two leaders.
He noted that SDA leaders decided to pursue legal action because they believed the only remaining option to save the country after the failed church-led initiative was through the courts.
The Nation attempted to contact Sapit and Muheria, but both leaders had not yet responded to calls or text messages.
Even after the unsuccessful attempt to prevent the impeachment in the House, some church leaders renewed their efforts to convince the President to support his deputy in the Senate.
When reached for comment, National Assembly Majority Whip Silvanus Osoro criticized the Deputy President, particularly regarding his press conference before meeting with them.
“The Deputy President insulted Parliament and should be prepared to face the repercussions. The President should not intervene, nor should the clergy,” Mr. Osoro stated.
He added, “Let independent bodies fulfill their constitutional responsibilities as required. We have carried out our role in the National Assembly; now let him face the Senate.”
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How Rigathi Gachagua’s Hotel Room Was Bugged
