Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has come under fire following his tribute to the late comedian Zakaria Kariuki, better known to fans as KK Mwenyewe, who passed away on Monday night.
Gachagua, in a condolence message shared on July 15, praised the 23-year-old content creator as a “creative genius” whose skits inspired many Kenyans.
“I have this morning woken up to the sad demise of Mr. Zachariah Kariuki alias Mr. KK Mwenyewe, a content creator par excellence and inspiration to many,” he wrote.However, the message was not welcomed well with many Kenyans online, who questioned its sincerity and timing considering previous allegations that Gachagua had ignored requests to support the young comedian when he was still alive.
Mathira MP Eric Wamumbi was among those who publicly called out Gachagua, claiming that he had personally approached him in November 2022 to seek help for Kariuki, who was then struggling to raise university fees.
“On November 3, 2022, when this guy was fundraising for his school fees. I approached you and showed you his content of imitating your speeches. I asked if you could pay his fees or even offer him a job. But you brushed it off,” Wamumbi alleged in a response on Facebook.Wamumbi further stated that instead of helping KK Mwenyewe, Gachagua shifted his attention to another content creator who came up with the viral nickname “Riggy G.”
His remarks sparked criticism, with many Kenyans accusing Gachagua of only acknowledging Kariuki after he is gone despite having had opportunities to offer support earlier.
“You ignored him when he needed help. Let those who stood by him grieve in peace,” one user wrote on social media.Kariuki, who rose to fame from his humorously impersonating Gachagua, died at Kiambu Level 5 Hospital after a short illness.
“We are heartbroken to announce the sudden demise of Zakaria Kariuki, aka KK Mwenyewe. He passed away while undergoing treatment,” fellow comedian Kafengo posted on Facebook.KK Mwenyewe had captured the hearts of many with his witty and relatable skits, carving a niche as one of the most promising young voices in Kenyan comedy.
