The Kenyan deputy president who has fast risen to gain popularity on social media is often labelled a divisive but decisive politician amid backlash from recent public remarks. The controversial and well-articulated leader has not shied from controversy in addressing issues from the state capture as he did of the campaign trail in 2022 but has also been keen to address other matters such as looming hunger head on!
From a step he top that was seen as retrogressive in many aspects by calling for the return of the shamba system, Rigathi did spell out a rallying call to stakeholders in the agriculture sector to consider allowing those living near forests and squatters to be allowed to conduct seasonal farming even in areas designated as forest areas. This call by the deputy president was majorly divisive because some consider it as counterproductive to the agenda of environmental conservation and protection of forests.
At the same time, the moves goes against the afforestation agenda spearheaded by the president himself in the ambitious plan of planting billion trees. Mr Gachagua now popular often referred to as Riggy G has also defended the push for the adaptation of GMO foods in Kenya as a move to foster food security agenda in the country.
On the other hand, this matter of GMOS have also stirred up not only emotions but eye brows in the scientific and religious communities with proponents and opponents fiercely dealing to prove their rationale in the short term and the long term. Riggy G is however, very much determined to do everything in his capacity and might to make sure that Kenyans are fed at whatever cost. In a recent outburst depicting his frustration and fatigue to achieve his mission towards food security, he claimed that sice becoming deputy president; he has turned into a beggar even asking for food on behalf of Kenyans even to the colonizers. This of course didn’t auger very well with the so called colonizers and put him at a crossroads of despair and disrepair from his remarks that perhaps were well meaning but taken out of the right context.
All matters taken into consideration though, it’s imperative to realize that Riggy G echoes a very critical point that this nation needs to prioritize food security, because without it, no development agenda can be achieved by a nation that is not able to feed its people. Proper strategies with a long term view have to be put in place especially now when we suffer a faster pace of climate change as a continent and globally.
About The Author
