Nairobi, Kenya| In a riveting and unfiltered interview aired on Citizen TV on the evening of Tuesday, August 26, 2025, former Kenyan Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua pulled no punches as he laid bare a litany of allegations against President William Ruto.
Speaking to seasoned journalist Yvonne Okwara, Gachagua painted a damning portrait of a presidency marred by deception, corruption, tribal manipulation, and dangerous international entanglements.
From accusations of bribing parliamentarians to claims of secret meetings with extremist groups, Gachagua’s disclosures have ignited a firestorm in Kenyan politics, raising profound questions about governance, accountability, and the future of the nation.
In this exclusive breakdown, we will delve deep into the key moments, providing context, analysis, and the full weight of Gachagua’s words amid Kenya’s escalating political turmoil.
Defending Against Tribalism Labels: A Nationalist or Regional Champion?
Gachagua opened the interview by vehemently rejecting the “tribalist” tag often hurled at him by critics, particularly since his fallout with Ruto. He argued that narratives in Kenyan politics are weaponized tools, and Ruto, whom he described as a “master of narratives,” has masterfully flipped the script.
“He had a lot of nice things to say about me when we were getting along, but the minute we fell out, he labeled me as a tribalist so that he can justify to Kenyans why, after I helped to make him President, he hounded me out of office,” Gachagua stated.
Expanding on his recent U.S. trip, Gachagua clarified that his engagements were inclusive, hosting packed town hall meetings for all Kenyans to discuss national issues.
However, he defended attending community-specific events, like the Ngemi Festival in Seattle—a celebration of Kikuyu culture—insisting it was not exclusionary.
“I would not have invited other people to come and join in the Ngemi Festival because those were Kikuyu songs and people celebrating their culture. There is no one time I refused to engage all Kenyans,” he explained.
He reiterated his nationalist credentials, pointing to his support for Ruto—a non-Kikuyu—despite his Mt. Kenya roots, where the community delivered 87% of votes to the president. “I am a great nationalist who loves Kenya and has never uttered anything negative against another community,” he asserted.
Gachagua further argued that articulating regional interests is standard in Kenyan politics, citing examples like the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Prime Cabinet Secretary championing Western Kenya’s concerns without backlash. “It only becomes an issue when the region I come from has issues they want articulated,” he said, highlighting a perceived double standard.
He emphasized that his forums encouraged dissent, not sycophancy: “My forums were not a praise and worship session. I was very happy to have negative criticism.”
Addressing a Boston meeting with Mt. Kenya diaspora, he noted the cultural context: “I speak their language; I had no business speaking to them in English because I was in Boston. The fact that I was in Boston did not make me English; I was still Kikuyu, and they were all Kikuyus.”
This defense comes amid ongoing debates in Kenya about ethnic politics, where leaders from dominant communities like Mt. Kenya often face scrutiny for prioritizing regional agendas in a nation striving for unity post-colonial divisions.
The ‘Shareholding’ Controversy: Broken Promises and Political Bargains
One of the interview’s most explosive segments revolved around Gachagua’s “shareholding” concept—a metaphor for negotiated power-sharing in government. He claimed it was misconstrued, revealing intimate details of pre-election deals with Ruto.
“I sat down with Ruto and negotiated, on behalf of the Mt. Kenya people, our expectations from the government. He negotiated for 70% of our votes in exchange for 40% of the government,” Gachagua disclosed, lamenting the lack of a written agreement that led to betrayal. He negotiated for eight cabinet positions out of 22, leveraging Mt. Kenya’s electoral muscle.
Drawing parallels, Gachagua noted similar deals with opposition leader Raila Odinga, who secured four cabinet slots and 11 Principal Secretary roles for his support.
“When Raila came, he negotiated for 4 positions… Even us, to give Ruto support, we demanded certain things. I was a tough negotiator, and why people thought I was tribal or too much is because I was insisting on getting what I negotiated for, and I was being short-changed,” he said.
This revelation underscores the transactional nature of Kenyan coalitions, where alliances are forged on promises of patronage, often leading to post-election rifts and public disillusionment.
International Intrigue: Ties to China, Iran, RSF, and Al-Shabaab
Gachagua escalated his critique to foreign affairs, referencing a U.S. Senate bill by Senator James Risch calling for a review of Kenya’s non-NATO ally status due to alleged ties with China, Iran, and extremist groups like the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan and Al-Shabaab.
“I am not the one who came up with these allegations,” he clarified, noting Ruto’s response attributing U.S. scrutiny to Kenya’s trade expansion with China.
On RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), Gachagua admitted facilitating a meeting at Ruto’s request: “I have said that and I have evidence. I am the one who facilitated the meeting between President William Ruto and Hemedti… They were discussing business and trade and gold.” He described it as “official” but hinted at ulterior motives.
Regarding alleged Al-Shabaab meetings in Mandera, Gachagua deferred to ongoing U.S. investigations: “We will not prejudice investigations… President William Ruto answered on the issue of China; he has a mouth; he can answer whether he met Al-Shabaab or he did not.”
These claims tap into global concerns about Kenya’s geopolitical balancing act, with Ruto’s administration facing accusations of compromising security for economic gains amid East Africa’s volatile landscape.
Rampant Corruption: Parliament as a “Criminal Enterprise”
Gachagua’s most scathing attacks targeted corruption, labeling State House a “crime scene” and Kenya a “criminal enterprise.”
He accused Ruto of bribing MPs with Ksh.200,000 to pass the controversial Finance Bill—later withdrawn amid protests—and Ksh.500,000 per MP plus Ksh.10 million per Senator for his impeachment. “The President has no moral authority to talk about corruption in Parliament because he is the one who has corrupted it,” he charged.
He alleged Ruto maintains files on MPs, including recordings of bribes, to ensure loyalty: “William Ruto monitors all these MPs and has a file on each of them… The multi-agency team he has formed is to collect evidence and create files on all leaders to threaten them.”
Gachagua highlighted parliament’s loss of independence, quoting an MP: “Mr. President, you told us to pass the Finance Bill for you, we passed it for you.” He criticized Speaker Moses Wetangula for eroding parliamentary dignity by acting as Ruto’s “youth winger.”
On policies like the Social Health Authority (SHA), Gachagua claimed it was a Ksh.104 billion scam: “This thing was forced, pushed by William Ruto. This 104 billion is pure theft of public funds.”
He linked SHA deductions to funding bribes and empowerment programs, calling for Environment Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale’s sacking over related scandals.
Gachagua also decried the Affordable Housing Levy as a ruse for personal gain: “It is about business… William Ruto has seen a business opportunity to sell cement, steel, and iron sheets.”
These allegations resonate with Kenya’s Gen Z-led protests against economic policies seen as burdensome amid high unemployment and inequality.
Abuse of Power: Extrajudicial Killings, Abductions, and Personal Threats
Gachagua accused Ruto of violating the Constitution through a “killer squad” of 101 officers for abductions and cover-ups, and infiltrating protests with goons.
He mocked Ruto’s Katiba Day gazette as hypocritical and urged police to uphold the law: “Please stop being misused by William Ruto and Murkomen… Always be guided by the Constitution.”
Personally, Gachagua claimed seven assassination attempts by police in civilian attire: “The government has decided to try and assassinate me… I escaped death by a whisker.”
He praised figures like Senator Okiyah Omtatah for integrity amid coercion and criticized Ruto’s pre-UN compensation announcement as insincere: “The President should call a press conference and say that he accepts there were extrajudicial killings and abductions and he apologizes.”
Betrayal and Broken Vows: From Ally to Adversary
Reflecting on their fallout, Gachagua lamented Ruto’s transformation: “I do not know what happens to State House… Somebody who was a reasonable person becomes President and becomes a monster.”
He recalled Ruto’s promises against weaponizing the justice system—now allegedly used against opponents—and refused to defend deals like Adani: “The President was telling me to defend Adani, but I refused… I cannot defend corruption.”
Future Ambitions: A Presidential Bid and Call for Unity
Undeterred, Gachagua announced his 2027 presidential candidacy: “I will be on the ballot as a candidate for President. I am qualified and I have support.”
He advocated for a unified opposition candidate, pledging a public pact: “We need to produce one candidate to face William Ruto… I believe I am the candidate.”
Dismissing revenge motives, he framed his stance as a fight for good governance: “I am not interested in any revenge; I am interested in good governance.”
Gachagua thanked TikTokers, influencers, and media for amplifying truths and urged Kenyans to safeguard democracy, questioning the IEBC selection process amid Ruto-Raila consultations.
A Nation at Crossroads: Implications for Kenya’s Political Landscape
Gachagua’s interview exposes deep fissures in Kenya’s leadership, echoing public frustrations over corruption, inequality, and human rights abuses.
As Ruto faces international scrutiny and domestic unrest, these revelations could galvanize opposition forces ahead of 2027.
Whether they lead to investigations or further polarization remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: Kenya’s political narrative is being rewritten in real-time.
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