Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has once again shown his knack for colorful soundbites after opening up about football, music, and food preferences in a light-hearted five-question segment with BBC Swahili.
In the candid exchange, Gachagua made it clear that while many Kenyans passionately follow the English Premier League, his heart remains firmly rooted in local football,specifically AFC Leopards.
With his trademark blunt delivery, the former DP described himself as a man of loyalty and principle, saying his support for the Kenyan giants dates back decades.
“Mi ni mtu wa AFC tangu zamani,” he said.
He nostalgically recalled going to watch the club at City Stadium and sitting in one of the fan sections known as “Russia,” a reference many long-time local football followers would instantly recognize.
“Nilikua naenda kuwaona pale City Stadium. Tulikuwa tunakaa kwa ile tent inaitwa Russia.”
For many football lovers, the comments painted the image of an older Nairobi football culture—packed stadiums, fierce rivalries, and fan sections that gave local football its unique character long before European football dominated screens and conversations.
“Mi ni mtu wa msimamo. Mi nikiamua ni wewe, nakufa na wewe.”
Though said humorously, it also reflected the deeply emotional nature of football loyalty. For many fans, club support is inherited, lived, and defended for life regardless of trophies or disappointment.
When asked about English Premier League sides such as Manchester United and Arsenal, Gachagua offered a hilarious dismissal of the obsession many Kenyans have with European clubs.
“Mi sishughuliki na hii mambo ya wazungu. Hii ni mambo ya wakoloni.”
Roughly translated, he suggested he does not involve himself with “white people’s football” or what he called “colonial matters.”
Though dismissive of the EPL, he still acknowledged the emotional damage that colonisation caused over the years.
“Hii watu walituumiza sana,” he said, in reference to colonialists.
Away from football, Gachagua also spoke about music and made no secret of his preference for Mugithi.
He cited artists such as Samidoh, Waithaka wa Jane, and Tonny Young among the musicians he enjoys listening to.
His support for Migithi aligns with his public image, where he has often embraced Kikuyu cultural identity, traditional expression, and local entertainment.
Gachagua also revealed that he has his own band, which occasionally performs for him, though less frequently due to the demands and complexities tied to his status and work.
On food, Gachagua was asked to choose between ugali and chips.
Rather than selecting either traditional ugali or fried chips, he took a third route—potatoes, but specifically boiled potatoes.
When asked to choose between beef and chicken, Gachagua did not hesitate.
He chose beef, explaining that he has “some Maasai blood.”
Often seen through the lens of political headlines and national debates, the interview allowed audiences to see his personality through everyday preferences: football loyalty, favorite music, and food choices.
It also touched on something deeply Kenyan, the divide between local football loyalty and the nation’s near-obsession with European leagues.
