Gachagua slams Kindiki’s empowerment harambees

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki dances in South Mugirango on May 23, 2025./Gachagua

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has criticised the ongoing economic empowerment initiatives led by his successor, Kithure Kindiki.

Kindiki has been spearheading a team of senior Kenya Kwanza–allied leaders in a whirlwind of harambees across the country to ostensibly empower Kenyans.

However, in a hard-hitting statement on Friday, May 24, 2025, Gachagua warned that these fundraisers are being conducted at the expense of essential service delivery.

Despite Gachagua’s criticism, Kindiki has insisted that the social empowerment campaigns are designed to help small businesses and “hustlers” access capital.

He noted that under the Sh28 billion Nyota Programme, the government will provide Ksh 50,000 in working capital to 70 youth-owned micro and small enterprises in each of the country’s 1,450 wards, aiming to stimulate expansion and create jobs.

“The government is supporting micro and small enterprises—kinyozi, salons, mama mboga vendors, and other small traders—by encouraging aggregation into SACCOs and bolstering their growth,” Kindiki said in South Mugirango on Thursday, May 22, 2025.

On Friday, May 23, 2025, while speaking in Kieni, Kindiki hit out at Gachagua, saying the empowerment harambees will not stop any time soon.

"Those criticising the empowerment programme are used to hoodwinking the voters during the campaigns but disappear when they are voted in," Kindiki said.

Gachagua claimed that money has been diverted to strategic institutions from where they are accessed to finance the alleged empowerment programmes.

“There is no money for capitation in our schools, and principals are subjected to a game of musical chairs by the government. They are torn between admitting auctioneers to settle unpaid bills or sending pupils home for levies,” he said.

“Our hospitals are mere shells, crippled by a failed healthcare system and hollow promises from the government.”

Gachagua alleged that taxes collected from Kenyans, including payroll deductions, are being mismanaged by politicians rather than directed toward vital public services.

“Government workers’ payslips have been slashed, and they endure zero facilitation and delayed salaries. Contractors and suppliers are auctioned off for unpaid bills,” he claimed.

“The little revenue from taxes is diverted through security agencies to bribe women and boda-boda operators, finance the 2027 campaign, and pay goons to disrupt gatherings of those calling for regime change.”

He added that musicians and creative artists are also allegedly being paid to promote the government’s agenda.

“Sad as it is, Kenyans are told to ‘eat’ the money but not surrender their souls,” Gachagua said.

“Where I come from, we agree that ‘we shall never bury an elephant with its tusks.’ Please continue plucking the tusks before burial.”

Reminding Kenyans that history and truth cannot be buried or wished away, Gachagua recalled the economic devastation wrought by the printing of billions of shillings during the 1992 succession crisis.

“We must remind those hawking money in bags what the famous Sh 500 notes did to our economy and nation in 1992. Kenyans are still paying the price over three decades later. Be vigilant, dear Kenyans,” he appealed.