Rigathi Gachagua is a Kenyan politician and the current member of parliament for Mathira Constituency.
He is also the running mate for Kenya Kwanza presidential candidate William Ruto for Kenya’s presidential elections set for August 2022.
He was born in 1965 in Hiriga village of Mathira Constituency, Nyeri County. Being the eighth born child to Nashashon Gachagua Reriani and Martha Kirigo.
His association with Mau Mau Freedom Fighters
His parents were Mau Mau freedom fighters in Mt.Kenya forest. Where Nashashon Gachagua Reriani was building and servicing guns for the freedom fighters.
Education
He enrolled at Kabiruini Primary School from 1971 to 1977 before proceeding to Kianyaga High School. For his O-levels and A-levels.
In 1985, he joined the University of Nairobi, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. Political Science and Literature in 1988.
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Nyeri District University Students Association
At the University of Nairobi, Gachagua was the Nyeri District University Students Association (Ndusa) leader and the chairman of The Association of Literature Students. Married to Dorcas Wanjiku Rigathi, a pastor based in Mathira.
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Ministry of Home Affairs & National Heritage
After graduating, Gachagua was employed for a short time at Kenya’s Ministry of Home Affairs & National Heritage before he joined Administration Police Institute in 1990.
After graduating from the Administration Police Institute, Gachagua was posted at the Office of the then president Daniel Arap Moi as a District Officer Cadet between 1991 and 1992.
Gachagua then served as a District Officer in Kakamega, Ng’arua, and Laikipia districts.
Kenya School of Government
From 1999 and 2000, he joined the Kenya School of Government, where he graduated with a Diploma in Advanced Public Administration.
Starting 2001 to 2006, Gachagua then worked as the Personal Assistant to Uhuru Kenyatta, the current President of the Republic of Kenya.
For ten years, from 2007 to 2017, Gachagua remained behind the scenes running his businesses.
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Member of Parliament
In 2017 Gachagua won elections as a Kenyan member of parliament for the Mathira constituency. He is the running mate to UDA presidential candidate William Ruto since the 15th of May 2022 under Kenya Kwanza political coalition.
Others who were eyeing the same position included Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru, Kandara MP Alice Wahome, Tharaka Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki, and National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi.
Rigathi has chequered past with pending court cases over alleged cases of misappropriation of government funds.
