Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has taken a bold swipe at President William Ruto, questioning both his truthfulness and even his name.
Gachagua, who is on a campaign tour of the Mt Kenya East region, tore at President Ruto’s promises to the people of Meru, during the President's address to Makutano residents on Saturday, June 21, as he graced the ASK show.
Speaking candidly in Meru county, the Former Dp accused the head of state of lying to the citizenry - to the extent he now believes his own lies.
Gachagua said, “Ruto alisema pale Makutano ati yeye ni Mmeru tukimuangalia. Ruto has become a pathological liar that he believes his own lies. We cannot even confirm if William Ruto is his real name”
During a church service at Rwarera, he went ahead to claim the president hired youths to block his political rallies. According to Gachagua, Ruto used Deputy President Kithure Kindiki to mobilise youths to disrupt his political rallies in Meru.
“Kindiki gave MPs Ksh.3 million to pay youths to chase us away and be hostile to us in Imenti. He also paid them to light a bonfire in Tuskys, but instead, the youth began chanting ‘one-term’. When we arrive in those places, those sponsored youths are even chanting ‘one-term’ and have no business in attacking us. They are welcoming us with songs everywhere we go in Meru," Gachagua said.
Gachagua further noted that the Mt Kenya region no longer believes in Ruto, no matter how much the president tries to disrupt his meetings.
“Ruto is angry because he knows he has lost the Mountain. Don’t blame me; I told you ages ago that the mountain people do not like betrayal and lies, and that is what you did to them. They cannot support you anymore. Forget this mountain; it is gone forever. You lost them and should not include them in your 2027 game plan. I gave you good advice, but you ignored me," he stated.
Not a First.
This, is not the former Dp has accused the President of lying. Ealier this year, Gachagua rebuked Ruto following claims made by the Head of State that Gachagua allegedly attempted to blackmail him.
Gachagua accused Ruto of being a “pathological liar” and suggested that the president suffers from a mental illness.
“I am now convinced more than ever before that pathological lying is a mental disorder. The greatest existential threat to our beloved country is outright lying to the people of Kenya without blinking and failure by a leader to put his team together to harmonise their lies. I weep for my country, Kenya,” Gachagua wrote on X.
The dispute escalated after Ruto, in a televised interview, recounted his fallout with Gachagua, highlighting an alleged instance where the former deputy president attempted to blackmail him.
Ruto claimed that Gachagua had proposed a deal where he could make Ruto a one-term president unless he was given Sh10 billion to mobilise Mt Kenya voters.
According to Ruto, the attempted blackmail, which he turned down, was among the key factors that led to Gachagua’s eventual downfall.
“I stared straight at him and told him I would not do it under any circumstance whatsoever, and if it meant me being a one-term president, so be it,” Ruto said.
Ruto also discussed the challenges he faced while working with Gachagua, citing multiple instances of him conflicting with government officials.
“I did not sign any papers to remove Rigathi Gachagua from office. The law was followed, and those who removed him, removed him,” Ruto explained.
He recalled that Gachagua had engaged in a series of petty disputes, including with blogger Dennis Itumbi and government officials like Ndindi Nyoro and Kimani Ichung'wah. Ruto said he advised Gachagua to focus on governance rather than personal squabbles.
“I told Rigathi, let’s focus on working for the people of Kenya. Let’s stop with these petty disputes,” Ruto said.
The Head of State also described how Gachagua had escalated tensions with Members of Parliament, allegedly warning MPs that they would be removed unless they supported him.
“Before December, if you don’t bow to me, you’ll go home,” Ruto quoted Gachagua as saying.
Ruto further explained that Gachagua’s downfall began with his “arrogance” towards government officials and his juniors.
“Rigathi started coming to me with petty accusations against everyone he did not like. He was picking fights with Ndindi Nyoro, Dennis Itumbi, Farouk Kibet, even asking Mt Kenya MPs to kneel before him or else he’d use the strength of his office to victimise them,” he said.
Despite the mounting tensions, Ruto insisted that he was not responsible for Gachagua’s removal. He claimed that he stopped two other plans to oust the former DP.
“I cannot be accused of orchestrating the downfall of someone I single-handedly - against the advice of everyone else - nominated to be my running mate,” Ruto said, reflecting on the decision that initially placed Gachagua in the role.
The two have been at odds since Gachagua’s removal from office, with their exchanges growing increasingly hostile.