Matiang'i, Gachagua Jointly Meet Kenyans in Baltimore

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and former Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang’i have recently concluded a series of high-profile engagements with the Kenyan diaspora in the United States. 

Gachagua’s tour, which included stops in Seattle, Boston, and Baltimore, signals a strategic effort to consolidate backing amongst Kenyans living abroad. The former Deputy President, accompanied by his spouse Pastor Dorcas Rigathi, convened a forum in Baltimore, Maryland, specifically targeting Kenyan educators, healthcare practitioners, and community organisers. Gachagua described the meeting as a "productive" discussion centred on the role of diaspora professionals in shaping Kenya’s future, particularly in the education and health sectors. 

He commended the attendees for their continued dedication to national development, saying, "Thank you, teachers, for your solidarity and for being good ambassadors of our Nation, Kenya."

The Baltimore event also provided Gachagua a platform to voice his concerns about the current state of Kenya's education system. 

"Education is one of the most essential foundations that every nation must take seriously. Nobody should be left free to decide to shake the very foundation of our Nation and the legacy we live on," he remarked.

Dr Matiang’i’s presence at the Baltimore gathering has added a layer of political intrigue to the tour. Matiang’i, who was a prominent figure in the Jubilee administration, has maintained a relatively low profile since leaving office. Subsequently, the two leaders held a private meeting in Aberdeen, Maryland, which Gachagua characterised as a “tête-à-tête” focused on national challenges and what he termed "the liberation cause."

"During my visit to the USA, I had a tete-a-tete with Dr Fred Matiang’i at Aberdeen, Maryland. We discussed several issues affecting our country, Kenya, and our liberation cause. Our focus remains strong, and our commitment to the people of Kenya is unwavering. God bless Kenya," Gachagua announced on his official social media account.

While the specifics of their discussions remain undisclosed, the timing and symbolic significance of the meeting suggest a possible convergence of political interests. Beyond the political manoeuvring, Gachagua’s US tour has also highlighted the significant cultural and entrepreneurial contributions of the Kenyan diaspora. In Poolesville, Maryland, he visited the AfriThrive Cultural Farm, an initiative led by Prof. Choti and his wife. 

The farm cultivates traditional African vegetables, including managu, mrenda, kunde, terere, sagaa, and misheveve, serving as a cultural focal point for Africans in the US. Gachagua praised the Chotis for their efforts in preserving African traditions through agriculture, emphasising the symbolic and medicinal value of crops like black jack (bidens pilosa), which he described as "a delicious and medicinal vegetable" despite its common perception as a weed. 

"I am very proud of the Kenyan spirit of thriving anywhere in the world and placing our culture and traditional practices at the global stage," he said.

The AfriThrive farm, which attracts thousands of visitors annually, exemplifies the broader narrative of diaspora resilience and innovation. Gachagua encouraged Kenyans in the US to support the farm and embrace its offerings, framing it as a site of cultural reclamation and pride.

"My people, our dear people in the States, take advantage of this farm and consume the kunde, murenda, managu, okra, terere, and the black jack grown right here by Prof. Choti," he urged.

The former Deputy President’s tour commenced on 10 July with a warm reception in Seattle, and has included town-hall meetings, cultural receptions, and investor forums. Sources close to the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), which Gachagua leads, have described the trip as a strategic outreach mission aimed at consolidating diaspora support and gathering insights from Kenyan communities abroad.