Rigathi’s Loose Tongue: Why Kenya Cannot Entrust Its Future to a Reckless Politician

By Fred Nyankuru

Kenya is in a season of political turbulence. Discontent with President William Ruto’s administration is palpable; high cost of living, broken promises, and a disillusioned citizenry have created fertile ground for opposition politics. In this climate of anger, Rigathi Gachagua has emerged as a loud, self-styled critic of the very government he served. But make no mistake: behind his noise lies not statesmanship, but a grave danger.

Rigathi’s rise as the “alternative” voice to Ruto is not built on vision, reform, or a credible plan for the nation. It is built on tantrums, tribal entitlement, and above all, reckless talk. His loose tongue, once dismissed as mere bluster, is fast becoming a national security concern, and the opposition must recognise the peril of entertaining him as a potential leader.

Rigathi has repeatedly hinted that he could expose “government secrets” from his time in office. He frames this as a form of honesty or bravery. But let us be clear: threatening to spill confidential state information is neither noble nor courageous. It is irresponsible, stupid, and dangerous.

A man who has sworn an oath of secrecy while holding high office remains bound to that oath for life. The logic is simple: governments may change, but the security of the nation does not. Military operations, intelligence networks, and investigative strategies are not toys to be tossed around in political quarrels. They are the backbone of Kenya’s sovereignty.

When Rigathi threatens to reveal what was discussed in Cabinet, he crosses a line. Today it may be Cabinet gossip, but tomorrow, by the same reckless impulse, he could reveal matters relating to counterterrorism, border security, or intelligence-sharing with allies. In a world where regional stability is fragile and terrorism remains a real threat, such loose talk is not mere politics. It is a direct assault on national security.

Some will argue that exposing government wrongdoing is part of accountability. And they are right —when it comes to corruption, human rights abuses, or state-sanctioned injustice, leaders have a moral duty to speak up. Whistle-blowing is an act of courage that strengthens democracy.

But Rigathi is no whistle-blower. He is not exposing theft of public money, nor is he unveiling systemic oppression. His rants are not about protecting citizens; they are about protecting his ego. His threats to reveal secrets are blackmail tactics designed to intimidate both his political opponents and his former allies. That is not accountability. That is recklessness.

And therein lies the danger. A man who weaponises confidential information for personal vendetta today will do the same tomorrow. If Rigathi cannot keep the secrets of a government he has just served, what confidence should Kenyans have that he will protect the confidentiality of any future government? If he can threaten the security of one administration because he feels side-lined, he will do the same when the next administration crosses him.

Opposition leaders such as Kalonzo Musyoka, Fred Matiang’i, Martha Karua, and others must confront this uncomfortable truth: Rigathi is not a partner; he is a liability.

The very thought that a man who cannot keep secrets might one day sit at the centre of an opposition coalition should alarm them. Politics requires trust, even among rivals. If Rigathi is willing to leak Cabinet discussions today, what stops him from exposing coalition strategies tomorrow? What stops him from betraying confidential negotiations with foreign partners?

Aligning with Rigathi is like storing fuel next to a fire and hoping it never ignites. It is political suicide dressed as political strategy.

The stakes go beyond opposition politics. At the heart of the matter is the sovereignty of Kenya itself. Loose talk in the hands of a senior leader is not harmless —it has ripple effects that can destabilise institutions, compromise intelligence-sharing with allies, and embolden external threats.

Kenya’s fight against terrorism, organised crime, and regional instability depends on trust —trust within its institutions and trust with foreign partners. If leaders like Rigathi normalise the careless handling of secrets, that trust erodes. Once trust is gone, intelligence dries up, coordination weakens, and the entire country becomes vulnerable. The sovereignty of Kenya cannot be reduced to the whims of a politician’s tantrums.

This is not new behaviour for Rigathi. His political career has been marked by loud, unfiltered statements, often tribal, sometimes abusive, and nearly always divisive. What once seemed like political flavour is now revealing itself as a dangerous incapacity for discipline.

Consider his frequent remarks about government appointments, openly framing them in terms of tribal entitlement. Consider his casual attacks on institutions that demand respect and restraint. Each of these may have been dismissed as “Riggy G being Riggy G.” But add them up, and a pattern emerges: this is a man who cannot control his tongue. And a man who cannot control his tongue cannot be trusted with the instruments of power.

Kenyans must resist the temptation to see Rigathi as a saviour simply because they are angry with President Ruto. The enemy of your enemy is not always your friend. Rigathi does not represent reform, justice, or accountability, he represents a more dangerous mutation of the same rot.

If Ruto has failed through arrogance and broken promises, Rigathi would fail through recklessness and insecurity. One undermines the economy; the other undermines sovereignty. Neither offers the vision Kenya desperately needs.

What Kenya requires now is not another tribal strongman or a loose-tongued opportunist. It requires leaders who understand the gravity of their oath, the sanctity of state secrecy, and the discipline to put country above self.

Politics is not just about speaking loudly. True leadership is about knowing when not to speak, when silence protects lives, institutions, and the nation itself. Rigathi Gachagua has proven, time and again, that he lacks that restraint.

Opposition leaders must keep him at arm’s length, lest they become hostages to his recklessness. And Kenyans must reject the illusion that volume equals vision. A man who cannot control his mouth cannot control a country.

Rigathi is not the future. He is a threat to it.