President William Ruto has taken a swipe at Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, accusing him of lacking the moral authority to lecture on governance. Speaking during the launch of the Alupe Dam project in Busia County, Ruto described Gachagua as incompetent, corrupt, and divisive. He stated that such qualities have no place in the modern Kenyan political landscape and emphasized that leaders who engage in tribalism and misuse of public resources have been rightly shown the door.
“Those corrupt, incompetent, thieves, and tribal leaders have no place in this country,” Ruto said. “They are now trying to lecture us on which way Kenya should go, yet they were removed for incompetence and corruption.”
This is the third time the President has publicly criticized his deputy. Gachagua, however, has maintained his critique of the Ruto administration. Recently, he accused the President of focusing on personal attacks during a development tour in Western Kenya.
Speaking during a TikTok Live session, Gachagua expressed concern that the government is neglecting critical issues such as infrastructure, sugar factory revival, and healthcare in favor of political rhetoric. “A whole President and his team go to a region, and instead of discussing roads, water, or struggling sugar factories, they are busy discussing one person—me,” Gachagua said.
Ruto defended his administration’s focus on reviving the sugar industry, citing the recent Sh150 million bonus payout to sugarcane farmers. He criticized leaders questioning the initiative, including Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba, who raised concerns about the source of the funds.
“Some leaders are asking where the money is coming from. The same place we pay coffee and tea farmers is where sugarcane farmers are getting their bonuses,” Ruto clarified.
He further noted that sugarcane farmers deserve equal treatment, emphasizing that all state millers, including Sony, Chemelil, Muhoroni, and Trans Nzoia, would soon begin paying bonuses. “Does it mean cane farmers are not Kenyans?” Ruto posed.
The escalating public feud underscores a growing leadership rift, with Gachagua accusing Ruto of sidelining critical regional concerns, while Ruto dismisses the deputy’s comments as baseless and unproductive. The rivalry has sparked heated debate on the focus and priorities of Kenya’s leadership.
