Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has sparked mixed reactions across the country after making bold remarks directed at President William Ruto’s recent call for young Kenyans to get married.
Just a day after President Ruto urged youths to embrace responsibility, settle down, and avoid “jumping from one lady to another,” Gachagua has responded with a sharp political counterpoint linking the country’s economic woes to declining marriage rates.
Speaking during a gathering at the DCP party offices, Gachagua took aim at the President’s policies, arguing that economic hardship is the main reason many young people are unable to marry or start families.
He claimed that the high cost of living, unemployment, and what he termed “poorly structured economic reforms” have made it nearly impossible for youths to plan stable futures.
According to Gachagua, the solutions lie not in public lectures on morality, but in fixing the systemic issues that frustrate young Kenyans.
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He told the crowd that more youths would marry “when I become president,” promising to reverse and streamline several policies implemented under the current Kenya Kwanza administration.
Gachagua insisted that within one year of his presidency, he would prioritize economic stabilization, job creation, and support for small and medium enterprises—measures he believes would enable young people to afford dowries, weddings, and family life.
His remarks were met with cheers from his supporters, though critics online accused him of politicizing personal choices and exploiting economic frustrations for campaign mileage.
The former DP has increasingly positioned himself as a vocal critic of President Ruto as political tensions escalate ahead of the next election cycle.
His latest comments are expected to deepen the rift within the ruling coalition and intensify debates on the real causes behind delayed marriages among Kenyan youth.
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