WE NEED YOU ALIVE ; MIGUNA WARNS GACHAGUA, WIFE OVER RISKY BOAT RIDE

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and his wife, Pastor Dorcas Rigathi, have drawn attention online after a video captured them enjoying a speedboat ride during their ongoing visit to the United States.

The couple appeared relaxed as they sat together on the boat, taking in the scenery during what has been described as the personal and family-focused part of Gachagua’s extended US tour.

However, the seemingly quiet leisure moment quickly attracted a different kind of attention after lawyer Miguna Miguna raised concerns over the apparent absence of life jackets.

Reacting to the footage, Miguna urged Gachagua and his wife to prioritise their safety while on the water.

“Always wear life jackets on boats, Rigathi and Mrs. Gachagua. We need you alive,” Miguna wrote in a social media post, before adding that the couple should enjoy their vacation in “the belly of the beast.”

The comment added a political edge to what had otherwise been a lighthearted moment, given Miguna’s long history of outspoken commentary on Kenyan politics.

The footage quickly made its rounds across social media, with Kenyans responding with a mixture of humour, political jokes and genuine safety concerns.

Some users focused on the couple’s relaxed appearance and described the outing as “couple goals”, while others turned the speedboat into a metaphor for Gachagua’s political ambitions ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Others, however, zeroed in on the safety issue, questioning why life jackets were seemingly not visible on the occupants of the boat.

The reactions added another layer to an otherwise ordinary holiday outing, particularly because Gachagua remains one of the country’s closely watched political figures as he positions himself for the next presidential contest.

The boat ride comes during the first phase of Gachagua’s extended visit to the US, which began after he left Kenya on the night of Wednesday, August 26.

According to the Democracy for Citizens Party itinerary, the first 10 days of the trip were set aside for rest, re-energising and spending time with his wife before he begins a series of political and diaspora engagements.

Gachagua had previously explained that the break was meant to give him an opportunity to reconnect with his family after an intense period of political activity.

“I’m taking a 10-day break to re-energise and spend some quality time with my wife,” he said, adding that he had not had enough opportunity to spend quality time with her.

The boat outing therefore appeared to fit into that quieter phase of the trip, offering a rare glimpse of the former Deputy President away from the political spotlight.

The personal break is, however, only the opening chapter of the US visit.

Gachagua is scheduled to begin political and diaspora engagements in Spokane, Washington, from September 4 to September 10, before proceeding to Portland, Oregon, for another series of engagements running from September 10 to September 16.

The wider tour is expected to take him to several US states as he interacts with Kenyans in the diaspora and continues building his political network ahead of the 2027 elections.

The timing is significant. Before leaving Kenya, Gachagua concluded a 56-day political consultation exercise at his Wamunyoro home, during which he declared his readiness to challenge President William Ruto in the 2027 presidential race.

For now, though, his US visit has offered a brief change of scenery — and a boat ride with his wife has unexpectedly become one of the first moments from the trip to capture widespread attention back home.