Ruto responds to Gachagua for branding Akorino traitors

President William Ruto has responded sharply to remarks by Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua, who criticised members of the Akorino sect for attending a State House function.

Speaking on Sunday, April 12, 2026, during a meeting with Akorino faithful at State House, Nairobi, Ruto defended his decision to host the group, maintaining that the residence is open to all Kenyans regardless of religion or background.

In an apparent rebuttal to Gachagua’s claims, the President emphasised unity, saying his administration does not discriminate along ethnic or religious lines.

“Hii jamii ya Akorino, nilianza na nyinyi. Mlikuja kunitafuta na mimi nikawatafuta. Tumetembea safari moja. Katika safari yetu, hatujaulizana wewe ni wa kabila gani… Tumeungana hapa kwa sababu ni mapenzi ya Mungu tufanye kazi pamoja,” Ruto said.

He dismissed suggestions that inviting ordinary citizens to State House diminishes its status, arguing instead that such engagements bring wananchi closer to the presidency.

“Mwingine anasema nimeshusha hadhi ya State House, lakini sio hivyo. Nimeinua wananchi wakuje juu wafike hapa State House. Watazoea tu, hii State House ni ya Wakenya wote,” he stated.

Ruto also took aim at critics questioning his engagements and authority, asserting that he alone determines who accesses State House.

“Hii ni nyumba ya taifa letu. Kila Mkenya akipata nafasi afike hapa bila kuulizwa maswali. Mimi ndiye rais, ndiye ninaamua nani anakuja na nani haingii,” he said.

He further ridiculed concerns raised over hospitality during such events, telling off those questioning arrangements.

“Unauliza mambo ya chakula kama nani? Chakula sio yako, mwenye kupika sio bibi yako, na mwenye kualika sio wewe. Nyinyi karibuni State House, na wakiendelea kulalamika nitawakaribisha tena,” Ruto added.

The President’s remarks come in response to Gachagua’s earlier outburst in which he accused Akorino members of betraying their community by attending the State House meeting.

In a statement shared on Sunday, Gachagua claimed the religious leaders had been invited to “sanitise” the President amid what he described as the profiling and persecution of sections of the Mt Kenya region.

“You have now crossed the red line. Destroying our cultural shrine and sending police to beat and humiliate our elders is declaring war on our community,” Gachagua said.

He also criticised the Akorino faithful who attended the event, urging them not to claim to represent the wider community.

“For the Akorino going to State House, please speak for your stomachs, not us. You join the long list of traitors who have turned against their own,” he said.

The exchange highlights growing political tensions, with leaders taking divergent positions over the State House engagements and broader issues affecting the Mt Kenya region.