Geoffrey Rigathi Gachagua is another mysterious man Kenya had never seen before. From his journey, there are many lessons we learn, the greatest of all being, a set back can be your stepping stones to greatness and not necessarily a downfall.
He is not as rich as Uhuru Kenyatta who has a net worth of half a billion dollars or William Ruto who has a net worth of Ksh. 67 billion but has managed to secure a top seat in the Kenyan politics.
In 2026, Gachagua's net worth is 1.4 billion Kenyan Shillings.
Still, there are controversies around these figures, there is a possibility that Riggy G might be worth more than what has been publicly declared, just not close to what Uhuru and Ruto are worth.
So, Who is Rigathi Gachagua? And why is he the man to look out for within the Kenyan political realms, on Facebook groups, they call him the greatest mobilizer in Kenyan history.
Let's unpack Gachagua's story.
Born on February 28, 1965, in Hiriga village, Mathira, Nyeri County, Rigathi Gachagua was the eighth of nine children to parents deeply embedded in Kenya’s independence struggle. His father Gachagua Reriani serviced Mau Mau rifles, while his mother Martha Kirigo was a courier for freedom fighters .
He started at Kabiruini Primary (1971–1977), then attended Kianyaga High for O-Levels and A-Levels . In 1985, he joined the University of Nairobi, earning a BA in Political Science & Literature in 1988. During his university years, he served as student leader for the Nyeri District University Students Association and chaired the Association of Literature Students .
He didn’t stop there: he completed paramilitary training at the Administration Police Institute around 1990, and later pursued an Advanced Diploma in Public Administration (1999–2000) at the Kenya School of Government .
Gachagua graduated into the Ministry of Home Affairs & National Heritage, eventually serving as an Assistant Secretary and personal assistant to the Head of Public Service and to the then-Minister Uhuru Kenyatta . He also served as a District Officer in various regions under President Moi’s government (early 1990s) .
In 2001 he became Uhuru Kenyatta’s personal assistant until 2006—a role that gave him crucial administrative exposure . Afterward, he pivoted to private entrepreneurship: he helmed the Ridor Group of Companies and reportedly built a business empire before re-entering politics .
When his brother Nderitu Gachagua became Nyeri governor in 2013, Rigathi was already influential behind the scenes—even described as running county affairs during his brother’s illness .
He ran for Mathira MP in 2017 under Jubilee and won . Known for fierce advocacy for local businesses and economic nationalism, he pushed for laws reserving government contracts under 1 billion KES for local firms—even if the amendments fell short .
In May 2022, William Ruto chose Gachagua as his running mate under the Kenya Kwanza alliance . Their victory in August 2022, with just over 50% of the vote, made him the 12th deputy president, sworn in on September 13, 2022 .
However, his time as DP was marred by legal and political storms: in July 2022, a court ordered him to reimburse KSh 202 million (roughly US $1.7 million), ruling it derived from corruption . Later, corruption charges in a $60 million case were dropped in November 2022 .
By October 2024, tensions with President Ruto peaked. On October 8, 2024, the National Assembly impeached him on 11 charges spanning corruption, ethnic discrimination, violating oath of office and more . On October 17, the Senate upheld five of the charges, confirming the removal, effective November 1, 2024, making him the first to be removed under the 2010 constitution .
He challenged the process in court—but political realities shifted quickly .
Age in 2026
As of June 2026, Rigathi Gachagua is 60 years old, born February 28, 1965 .
His financial standing is debated, even by himself but for now, his net worth stands at Ksh. 1.4 billion.
However,
Public statements
|
Year |
Declared
Net Worth |
Notes |
|
2019 |
KSh 12 billion |
Gachagua’s
claim |
|
2022 |
KSh 7 billion |
His
own statement |
|
2022 |
KSh 800 million |
Debate
declaration (minus KSh 200m) |
|
2025 |
KSh 800 million |
Again
in May 2025 profile |
Allegations (impeachment docs & news claims) suggest net worth exceeding KSh 5–12 billion—notably inflating to $40 million within two years, including luxury hotels .
So where are we in 2026? If you take his own public position, he stands at about KSh 800 million (~$6 million). But critics, court documents, and public records hint at a much larger empire—possibly several billions of shillings, tightly tied to controversial assets.
Family: He married Dorcas Wanjiku in 1989—now a pastor. They have two sons: Kevin (software engineer) and Keith (medical doctor) .
Future plans: Despite impeachment (which doesn’t bar him from contesting), Gachagua is already setting sights on the 2027 presidential election, promising reforms like restructuring payslips, strengthening independent institutions, decentralizing power and focusing on Gen Z leadership .
Final Takeaway
As of January 2026:
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