Former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua is set to leave Kenya tonight for the United States, where he will meet Kenyans living in the diaspora and take a 10-day break.
Gachagua said he plans to use the break to rest, meditate, pray, read and re-energise after what he described as a period of working “24-7 without resting”.
“I like to take 10 days to rest, meditate, pray, read, and re-energize and spend some quality time with my wife. I have not had time; I have not had the opportunity to spend some quality time with her,” he said.
He said he will visit several US cities during the trip, including Dallas, Kansas, Oregon and Boston, as well as other areas, to meet Kenyans living there.
Gachagua said he was announcing his departure to Kenyans and his supporters ahead of the trip.
The Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) released Gachagua’s itinerary on August 25, indicating that the tour will run for more than a month and cover five cities.
According to the itinerary, Gachagua will begin his engagements in Spokane, Washington, on September 4 and remain there until September 10.
He will then travel to Portland, Oregon, where he is scheduled to stay until September 16.
He is scheduled to spend eight days in Kansas from September 16 to September 24 before travelling to Dallas, Texas, where he will stay until October 1.
His final stop will be Boston, Massachusetts, where he is scheduled to remain until October 9.
Gachagua had earlier said he would stay in the US for an extended period, linking the decision to his desire to make political decisions away from what he described as undue influence from his associates.
“And I will stay for a while so take care of home,” Gachagua said while addressing worshippers during a church service on Sunday, August 23.
"I will stay for a while, and there is a reason; there are things I'm planning that cannot be planned here."
He said being away from his political associates would give him an opportunity to reflect and make decisions independently.
“When I'm here there's a lot of influence - Kaguchia tells me this, Methu that; this pulls me one way, this the other way. I want to make decisions without undue influence,” he said.
