Mixed reaction as Kagame Snubs Gachagua in Social Media Post
A social media post from Rwandese President Paul Kagame has sparked varied reactions as he seemingly ignored Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
Kagame posted a photo recapping events from the 60th Anniversary of the Zanzibar Revolution Celebrations in Tanzania.
Notably, in the picture, Kagame was seated between Gachagua and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.
However, in the caption acknowledging attendees, Kagame omitted any mention of Kenya’s Deputy President.
While he recognized Zanzibar’s leader Hussein Ali Mwinyi and Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu, the rest of the regional leaders were grouped under the ‘others’ category.
“Today at Amaan Stadium, President Kagame is participating in the 60th Anniversary of the Zanzibar Revolution celebrations, joining H.E. Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi, President of Zanzibar and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council, H.E. Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of Tanzania and other leaders from the region,” Kagame noted.
“As Africans, this is proof that we are capable of coming together to solve our own problems, harnessing opportunities that come with that,” he added.
The post swiftly drew the attention of observers who raised questions about whether it was an oversight and why Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua had not been acknowledged.
“You didn’t mention Museveni and the Deputy President of Kenya,” questioned an online user.
“Other leaders” and he is just next to you surely?” Another commented.
Gachagua received an invitation to the event in order to represent President William Ruto, who, for the past week, has been extensively engaged in official meetings and launching development projects in the Rift Valley while interacting with Kenyans about the government’s agenda.
Accompanied by Pastor Dorcas Rigathi and a group of MPs including Owen Baya (Kilifi North), Michael Muchira (Ol Jororok), Letipila Eli (Samburu North), Rachel Nyamai (Kitui South), Joseph Cherorot (Kipkelion East), Jane Njeri (Kirinyaga), and Cynthia Muge (Nandi), Deputy President Gachagua attended the Zanzibar event on behalf of President Ruto.
It is plausible that Ruto may have communicated his unavailability for the Zanzibar event, leading to the decision to dispatch Gachagua as the representative of Kenya’s second in command. Gachagua returned to Kenya on Friday night.
“This evening, I left Zanzibar City after a successful 60th Anniversary celebration of the Zanzibar Revolution. The celebration also offered us an opportunity to interact and share in matters of common interest with Heads of State and Government and other leaders,” Gachagua noted.
“On behalf of President William Ruto and the People of Kenya, I thank President Samia Suluhu of the United Republic of Tanzania and President Hussein Mwinyi of Zanzibar for hosting us.”
At the time of publishing this article, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu did not include the names of any leaders who attended the event in her social media recap.
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Mixed reaction as Kagame Snubs Gachagua in Social Media Post
