‘Riggy G’ is not a bad name – DP Gachagua acknowledges his viral nickname
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has finally expressed his contentment with the moniker 'Riggy G'.
The name gained an instant hit on Twitter during the Deputy President debate in July and went viral on the platform weeks later.
Speaking during the finals of the 94th Music festival held in Kisumu Girls High School, Kisumu County on Friday, September 23, 2022, he expressed that he was amazed by the creativity of young Kenyans.
He specifically pointed out that he was awestruck by the acronym that Kenyans refer him to urging teachers across the country to develop the talents of the young people.
"I amazed that our creative young people have given me a nickname… they have looked at my two names Rigathi Gachagua, looked for something sounding easier, more melodious and called me Riggy G, and I don't think its a bad name,
"So we are saying, let's let our people grow, let us develop the talent of our people, " he stated.
Gachagua arrived in Kisumu on Friday, September 23, 2022.
The DP was accompanied by outgoing Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) George Magoha, Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei, United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Secretary-General Veronica Maina, Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika, and Bomet women representative among other Kenya kwanza leaders.
He is representing President William Ruto who is out of the country on official trips.
Moments after he arrived, Gachagua dressed in a floral shirt, a pair of khaki-like pants and a pair of sunglasses was ushered in by Kisumu Governor Anyang' Nyongo and Kisumu East MP Shakeel Shabbir.
Shortly after welcoming the DP, Governor Nyong'o took to his social media to announce his arrival in the county.
“Receiving the Deputy President H.E Rigathi Gachagua at Kisumu International Airport ahead of the official closing of the 94 Kenya Music Festival happening in the great county of Kisumu.”Nyong'o wrote.
The former Mathira Member of Parliament (MP) is expected to award the winners in the music festival competition that commenced on September 17, 2022.
Brainchild behind 'Riggy G'
The brainchild behind the moniker that has since struck the minds of Kenyans, Ivy Chelimo had previously recounted how she developed the name for the country's second-in-command.
The Catholic University of East African (CUEA) graduate intimated that she had created it as she followed the proceedings of the televised deputy presidential but never imagined it would gain traction and become a hit on social media.
“It happened in the spur of the moment. I had not thought much about the nickname but started seeing people mention it, so I thought someone else had coined it before me,” she stated.
"You know how you can't actually mention a politician just because sometimes you don't want that traction on your page? That was me then but I was like let me just mention him because he was winning the debate anyway," she added.
However, moments, after it emerged that she(Chelimo) was the creator of the acronym, things changed as she was bombarded with messages from friends.
“I was shaken when my friends texted while at work saying I was trending on Twitter. Nine out of ten times, it is usually not because of something good. I had an influx of messages. It was overwhelming.”Chelimo alluded.
“I got lots of traction on Twitter. I was also approached by brands looking to work for me,” she added.
