Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has sensationally confessed that his fallout with President William Ruto was rooted in an agreement made before the 2022 elections, which he claims the Head of State has since dishonoured.
Speaking during The Explainer Show on Citizen TV hosted by Yvonne Okwara, Gachagua revealed that he and Ruto had negotiated a deal where the Mt. Kenya region would deliver 70 percent of the votes in exchange for 40 percent of government appointments. According to Gachagua, that promise was not kept, leading to mounting discontent in the Mt. Kenya region.
“We had agreed on a shareholders’ model of governance. Mt. Kenya was to get eight Cabinet Secretary positions and 40 percent of the government. Unfortunately, President Ruto started shortchanging us, and that’s why there’s a lot of rebellion in Mt kenya region,” Gachagua said.
On the “Shareholders” Government
Gachagua defended his much-debated “shareholders” remark, arguing that Kenyan politics has always been controlled by regional blocs that negotiate for power and resources. He said the Mt. Kenya region had gone into the 2022 elections with clear expectations, only to be sidelined later.
On Al-Shabaab Claims
Pressed by Okwara on his claims that President Ruto had met with the Al-Shabaab militia, Gachagua distanced himself from originating the allegation.
“That matter was already in the Senate of America. It has nothing to do with the people of Wajir or the Muslim community. Our fight with Ruto should not be used to malign others,” he explained.
Warning to MPs and Senators
The former DP also issued a stern warning to legislators allied to the President, saying he had repeatedly cautioned them that Ruto would eventually abandon them.
“Ruto has corruption files for MPs, Senators, and Governors. If you try to leave him, those files will be used against you. Look at Governor Kimani Wamatangi in Kiambu — his persecution is political because he doesn’t agree with Kimani Ichung’wah,” Gachagua alleged.
He further accused the President of running government as a “criminal enterprise” and revealed how corruption operates in Parliament, even linking his impeachment in the past to political corruption.
“Corruption has become our way of life in Kenya,” he lamented.
On Dropped Corruption Cases
Okwara pressed him on why corruption cases against him and other Ruto allies like CS Aisha Jumwa and CS Mithika Linturi were dropped upon assuming office. Gachagua insisted that his case was politically motivated by the Uhuru Kenyatta administration.
“My case was to punish me for supporting Ruto’s presidential bid. Once he won, the case collapsed because it had no basis,” he maintained.
On Social Health Authority (SHA)
Turning to the ongoing health reforms, Gachagua criticized the new Social Health Authority (SHA), claiming that a sound plan to reform NHIF was sabotaged.
“We had a good plan for NHIF. Ruto’s advisers changed it to create a new system, diverting KSh 104 billion,” he said.
Declares Presidential Bid
In a bold declaration, Gachagua announced his intention to vie for the presidency in 2027.
“I am a candidate for the next president of Kenya. I am qualified, and I will be on the ballot. Only the Supreme Court can stop me,” he affirmed.
Selling His Agenda
The former Deputy President also touched on national issues such as abductions, victims’ compensation, and the formation of a United Opposition to challenge Ruto’s administration. Using the now-popular catchphrase wantam (we want him out), Gachagua said the opposition’s agenda was clear: to send President Ruto home in 2027.
