William Ruto Fires Back at Ex DP Rigathi Gachagua in Fresh War of Words

President William Ruto has intensified his political attacks on his former deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, in the latest escalation of their public fallout.

Speaking during a development tour in Kasipul constituency on Sunday, March 22, the head of state signalled he was ready for a direct political showdown with Gachagua ahead of the 2027 General Election.

In a strongly worded address, Ruto criticised the opposition chief, accusing him of promoting divisive politics and lacking a clear vision for the country.

He further questioned Gachagua’s leadership record, claiming he made little impact during his time in Parliament.

According to the president, Gachagua did not contribute meaningfully to legislative processes, alleging that he neither sponsored bills nor actively participated in debates while serving as an MP.

"That man has no track record. He has no plan whatsoever for this nation. He was a one-term MP who never contributed to any debate, never sponsored a bill or motion,” Ruto said.

Ruto also took issue with Gachagua’s handling of key assignments during his tenure in government.

He claimed that efforts to reform the coffee sector were undermined, alleging that the former deputy president instead aligned himself with cartels and imposed illegal charges on farmers.

On the fight against illicit alcohol, Ruto accused Gachagua of failing to deliver, further alleging that he targeted businesspeople for personal gain rather than addressing the problem.

The president dismissed Gachagua’s leadership credentials, maintaining that he lacks the capacity to lead and insisting he would not pose a serious challenge in future political contests.

“I gave him an opportunity to help fix the coffee sector, but he teamed up with cartels, asking farmers for illegal levies. I asked him to deal with illicit brews, but he became an extortionist targeting businesspeople. I want to tell that character; you will lead no one, nowhere, and nobody,” he claimed.