Kenya Kwanza running mate Rigathi Gachagua has taken pandering to voters to a whole new chapati level.
In a recent campaign event in Kiambu, Gachagua dished out chapatis to supporters surrounding their vehicle while Deputy President William Ruto looked on appearing confused at what was happening.
Holding a green bucket atop the SUV and sharing the sunroof space with Ruto, Gachagua reached in multiple times pulling stacks of chapatis and handing them to supporters. He was not wearing gloves, horrifying some Kenyans who saw the move as unhygienic.
“Cholera!” one Kenyan reacted on Twitter.
Digital media strategist and influencer Pauline Njoroge just posted the photo with a shock emoji.
Abu Jamal, posted video of a dozing-off Gachagua, digging in his nose.
“After doing this he went ahead to give chapattis to Kiambu residents.yuck!”
After doing this he went ahead to give chapattis to Kiambu residents.yuck! pic.twitter.com/RCXp2fWDWW
— Abu Jamal (@CrediblePolls) July 16, 2022
“Hadi the man from Sugoi cannot fathom what’s happening,” Lokaale said, adding a hysterical laugher emoji.
Kenya Kwanza supporters did not take it lying down. They defended Gachugua, a former District Officer (DO) under former President Daniel Arap Moi, arguing his move helped to alleviate hunger that many Kenyans are currently experiencing, a laughable argument to justify the stunt.
Ruto and Gachagua blame the handshake deal between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Azimio la Umoja flag bearer Raila Odinga for the current high commodity prices. Their argument, however falls short because Ruto is still the sitting deputy president despite having fallen out with Kenyatta. His refusal to resign is viewed as a his way to sabotage the government for political expediency.
Commodity prices have spiked globally in the aftermath of the Coronavirus pandemic and the onset of Russian invasion of Ukraine.
According to the 25th edition of the World BankKenya Economic Update, Aiming High: Securing Education to Sustain the Recovery, the impact of the war in Ukraine is weighing on the global economic recovery from the pandemic. Domestically, a key risk to the outlook is a further worsening of the current drought, which is having a devastating effect on food security and livelihoods in affected parts of the country and is necessitating increased social spending on food assistance. (World Bank)
Despite acknowledging the global crisis causing inflation in their recently unveiled Kenyan Kwanza Manifesto, Ruto and Gachagua have made blaming Kenyatta, and Odinga, for the high prices of ungainly.
But Kenyans on Twitter are not done with Gachahua dishing out chapos while he’s on record of telling Kenyans that the new president should emulate President Moi, who welcomed Kenyans to State House to feast on rice and beef stew, a comment that earned him the nickname Naibu wa Rice. Some have twisted the nickname, which originates from Naibu wa Rais (Vice President) and turned it to Aibu wa Rice (Aibu means an embarrassment).
“This guy is out to shame the university of Nairobi,” another one tweeted. Gachagua graduated from the University of Nairobi.
“Aibu wa Rice… nyama, mishere, fanta na mashafashi,” Mo Yusuf tweeted
While most people saw the move as an unsanitary political stunt, one saw it as a christian thing to do.
“This is a leader who cares. Hata Yesu alitembea na wanafunzi wake na wafuasi wengine zaidi ya elfu nne mwishowe alijua kwamba watu hawa wanahitaji chakula na akawalisha kwa mikate kwa samaki. This is the real demonstration of Christianity,” Geoffrey Mbogani tweeted.
Twitter handle Presumptive Billion Dollar Man tweeted what must have been in most people’s minds.
“Chapo bila stew? Hii kweli ni bottom up. Kunyonga wakenya live live,” Presumptive Billion Dollar Man said.
It’s unclear whether Kenya Kwanza knew Gachagua was going to hand out chapatis, but the move has undermined their messaging.