Gachagua to Uhuru: Kenya Not the Same After Your Exit

Gachagua and Uhuru Kenyatta  on Wednesday, April 1, 2026

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, used the burial of former Kirinyaga Senator David Karaba to criticise current government policies, claiming key programmes initiated by former President Uhuru Kenyatta had been dismantled or weakened.

Addressing mourners at the funeral, Gachagua told Uhuru that several reforms introduced during his tenure were working effectively but had since been replaced with systems that are now struggling to deliver results.

He pointed to challenges in the education sector, saying delays in capitation funds had disrupted learning in schools, forcing some institutions to close early due to unpaid debts to suppliers.

“Rais wetu ulipoondoka mambo ya capitation ambayo ilikuwa inakuja kwa shule wazazi wanakua hawana shida. As we speak today watoto wako nyumbani. Walimu wamefunga shule mapema kwa sababu ya madeni because they have no money for capitation to pay suppliers,” he said.

Gachagua also criticised the transition from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the Social Health Authority (SHA), questioning the effectiveness of the new system.

“Rais Uhuru Kenyatta my brother, ile NHIF ulipanga ilikuwa inafanya kazi mzuri ilitolewa yule jamaa akaleta nyama nyingine anaitwa SHA… Inafanya kazi? SHA inafanya kazi?” he posed.

He further raised concerns about the 100 per cent transition policy from primary to secondary school, terming its implementation a “big challenge” and warning that the education system was under strain.

On healthcare, Gachagua said the new SHA system risked collapsing within six months, urging hospitals to secure their payments early to avoid financial losses.

“Juzi nimesema hii SHA limepata habari itakollapse within six months. Na nikaomba mahospitali wachukue pesa yao so that ikisabaratika maospitali yetu isikue na shida,” he stated.

The former deputy president also took aim at Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, accusing him of failing to address concerns regarding the management of SHA funds.

He challenged Duale to respond to questions about the system’s operations, including claims that its management platform is hosted abroad and the removal of a public tracking system that allowed Kenyans to monitor daily expenditure.

“The question I asked you, Duale, is, can you confirm that the system ile inaregulate SHA is domiciled in Dubai or not? … Why did you stop it?” he asked.

Gachagua further accused the CS of deflecting accountability by bringing ethnicity into the debate, urging him not to drag the Somali community into the controversy.

“Ile pesa yote mmechukua ya SHA ni wewe. Usiingize jamii ya Wasomali kwa shida zako. The Somali community is an honorable community that does business in this country. Don’t drag the community into your challenges,” he said.

At the same time, Gachagua called for transparency in the management of SHA funds, demanding the reinstatement of an online platform that previously allowed public oversight of the scheme’s finances.

He also used the platform to rally opposition leaders, saying they were working towards fielding a single presidential candidate in future elections.

“These are the issues of the day… tumekubaliana… tunataka candidate mmoja,” he said, listing several opposition figures.

Gachagua also reflected on his long-standing relationship with Uhuru Kenyatta, noting that they had worked closely for over two decades and built strong trust.

“When myself have been personal assistant to President Uhuru Kenyatta for many years… I have worked with President Uhuru Kenyatta for 20 years… kati ya mwaka tatu na ishirini ni ngani mingi,” he said.

The funeral brought together several political leaders and featured a rare public interaction between Gachagua and Uhuru, sparking speculation about a possible political rapprochement after years of strained relations following the 2022 elections.