Mudavadi demands clarity from Gachagua on whether he speaks for Kenya or foreign interests

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has questioned former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s patriotism, demanding clarity on whether he speaks as a Kenyan leader or as a representative of foreign interests following recent public statements.

Speaking during the commissioning of a classroom project in Busia County on Monday, August 11, 2025, Mudavadi expressed concern over a leader criticising his own country while abroad, raising questions about national loyalty and sovereignty.

Recently, you have seen on television and everywhere that one of us here in Kenya goes abroad and criticises his own nation, his own people, even speaking tribally until they get tired and tell him that this tribalism has gone too far,” Mudavadi said.

The Prime Cabinet Secretary questioned the appropriateness of a national leader making statements that could undermine the country’s reputation internationally, criticising how he could aspire to lead the country while appearing to represent foreign interests.

“Now you become a national leader and you go and you are the one criticising your own nation in a manner that defeats all reason and all logic to a foreign nation, to the extent that when you speak, we don’t know whether you are speaking as a security officer for the American government or you are talking as a Kenyan,” he stated.

“We cannot have a leader who says he wants to lead the country, and you’re the one talking as if you are talking as a security or investigative officer of a foreign nation or a foreign authority,” he added.

Need for patriotism

He called on Gachagua to respect Kenya and its people, stating that true patriotism is shown through commitment and unity.

“Kenya is a sovereign state. Kenya is a nation that got independence 60 years ago. Please respect your country. Respect your nation. That is what your patriotism is all about. You cannot go there and speak carelessly until we can only doubt your patriotism,” he stated.

According to Mudavadi, such behaviour does not contribute to nation-building.

“We want to abandon tribalism, let’s abandon this politics of dividing people along tribal lines. That is not building the Kenyan nation. Let us be committed to this country,” he said.