Gachagua mdogo – Riggy G’s look-alike cracks netizens as resemblance sparks laughter
By Dan Kauna, August 16, 2026A video of a Kenyan man with a striking resemblance to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has caused a stir on social media, tickling netizens.
The short video, recorded during an outdoor diaspora festival in Seattle, Washington, shows attendees stopping in their tracks to marvel at the man’s facial features, smile, and cheerful demeanour.
In the clip, the young man wears a broad brown cowboy hat, a plaid button-down shirt, and brown trousers. The outfit closely mirrors the casual fashion choices often worn by Gachagua during public political engagements.
Text overlaying the clip reads, “I met Gachagua akiwa mdogo look alike hahaha in Seattle, Washington,” drawing attention to the man’s similarity to a younger version of Kenya’s second Deputy President.
Uncanny resemblance sparks laughter
As the man walks across the grassy field, festival-goers quickly gather around him for handshakes and brief greetings. People in the crowd can be heard bursting into laughter as one attendee shouts, “Huyu jamaa anafanana na Gachagua bwana!”
Another bystander quickly calls out, “DP!” as the lookalike smiles warmly and continues greeting people. The lively interaction continues throughout the video, with others pointing at him and shouting, “Huyu ni Gachagua!” and questioning “Mbona unafanana na Gachagua?”
Online users have embraced the moment, affectionately referring to the man as ‘Gachagua Mdogo’ and praising his good-humoured response to the sudden public attention.
A familiar trend among Kenyans
Former Machachari actor Malik Lemmy, who is also currently in the United States, bumped into the viral lookalike at the same event. Malik took to his Instagram stories to share a selfie with the man, captioning the picture, “Truthful man!!!”
The photo shows the actor smiling broadly beside the lookalike, who was still wearing his signature cowboy hat and plaid shirt.
The post added to the online excitement, with fans expressing delight at seeing the former child star enjoying a light-hearted moment with Seattle’s own ‘Gachagua Mdogo’.
Political lookalikes have long drawn the interest of Kenyans both at home and in the diaspora.
Over the years, individuals who bear similarities to prominent leaders, including former President Jomo Kenyatta, former President Uhuru Kenyatta, and the late President Mwai Kibaki, have gained instant popularity after being spotted in public spaces or at social gatherings.