Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has weighed in on the controversy surrounding President William Ruto’s response to AI-generated images depicting him in a coffin.
Speaking at AIPCA in Dandora, Gachagua urged the President to handle criticism more gracefully and avoid overreacting to such depictions.
Gachagua dismissed the images as harmless, noting that children sharing them online while playing on their phones should not face extreme consequences like abduction or extrajudicial killings.
“Hakuna haja ya kuuwa watoto ati kwa sababu wameweka picha yako kwenye jeneza. Hii si sababu ya kuwachukua au kuwaua. Mungu atakuweka mahali pako siku ikifika.” Gachagua said.
Loosely translated: (There’s no need to harm children simply because they shared a photo of you in a coffin. This is not a reason to abduct or kill them. God will place you where you belong when your time comes).
Gachagua added, “Let’s not harm our children or abduct them because of caricatures. They are just playing with their phones.”
‘Ruto’s Lack of Moral Authority’
The former Deputy President also criticized Ruto’s lack of moral authority to address the nation’s declining values. He accused the President of tolerating offensive rhetoric from his allies, who often insult critics during public rallies without repercussions.
Gachagua singled out controversial MP Farah Maalim for his recent derogatory remarks aimed at Kenyans calling for the President’s resignation.
“Hii kuwekwa kwenye jeneza na hii matusi ya Maalim, which is worse? Si ni ya huyo Mheshimiwa?” Gachagua remarked.
(This issue of being placed in a coffin and Maalim’s insults, which is worse? Isn’t it the latter from the honorable member?)
“Na hii maneno ya kuwekwa kwenye jeneza, kwani mnaogopa kifo namna gani? Si mtakufa siku moja? Mnaleta shida nyingi kwa picha za jeneza, lakini hata ukiwekwa kwenye jeneza, wewe bado haujakufa. Kifo ni kitu cha kawaida, kitakuja. Ni sehemu ya maisha.”
(This issue of being placed in a coffin, how afraid of death are you? Won’t you die someday? You are making a big deal out of coffin images, but even if you’re placed in a coffin, you are still alive. Death is normal; it will come. It’s a part of life)
Gachagua further pointed out Ruto’s history of inflammatory remarks, reminding him of past comments about former leaders.
“This culture of insults started with you, so don’t complain,” he said, adding, “You told us Uhuru Kenyatta is a drunkard and Raila Odinga is a witch.”
He argued that Ruto and his allies had set a precedent for incitement through insults and should not now lament receiving the same treatment.
