Deputy President (DP) Rigathi Gachagua made headlines last week during his Colombia tour after claiming that Kenya had tigers.

In a video doing rounds on social media, he was heard telling foreigners to visit Kenya as tigers are one of the animals they would see.

I think in Kikuyu before translating to English

He clarified on Monday after his return to Kenya  during the the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Pan-African Conference.

DP Gachagua told his audience amidst laughter that it was a slip of the tongue.

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Leopard and tiger same name?

According to the second in command, a leopard and tiger share a name in the Agikuyu dialect.

“Some of us when we are speaking, think in our mother tongue and then translate it to English. So in Kikuyu land where I come from, the leopard and tiger are one and the same,” said the DP.

Gachagua in Colombia

He was speaking during a meeting with political and business leaders from South American nation.

He urged the foreigners to visit Kenya highlighting the tourists destinations and sites in the country.

“Kenya is a very warm country, we are very welcoming people we are very hospitable and we invite Colombian business people to come and invest in Kenya,” he said.

“Again, as you come to invest in Kenya, we have many facilities for tourism. We have rare species of wildlife; the elephant, rhino, buffalo and the tiger,” added Gachagua.

Tigers have never existed in Africa

Tigers have never existed in Kenya or Africa. They are based in Asian countries. They are located around water bodies; rivers and lakes.

Tigers are excellent swimmers that also prefer living in areas with dense forests that aid in camouflage allowing them to hunt their prey.