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NAIROBI, Kenya — President William Ruto has delivered a sharp political message to his former deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, invoking his extensive electoral record to counter Gachagua’s claims regarding his role in Ruto’s 2022 presidential victory.
Speaking during a public address, President Ruto directly challenged Gachagua’s political experience, questioning how his former deputy could claim responsibility for making him President given his comparatively short time in elective office.
“Gachagua, I have been elected seven times, while you have been elected only once,” Ruto stated.
The President’s remarks highlight a deep contrast in political tenure. Ruto’s journey spans decades, including multiple terms as a Member of Parliament, Cabinet Minister, Deputy President, and ultimately President.
In contrast, Gachagua entered elective politics in 2017 as the MP for Mathira Constituency before assuming the deputy presidency in 2022.
The sharp exchange marks another escalation in the fallout between the two former Kenya Kwanza allies. Relations deteriorated significantly following Gachagua’s impeachment by Parliament in October 2024.
Since his removal, the former Deputy President has emerged as a fierce critic of the administration, targeting its economic policies and political direction.
While Ruto uses his seven electoral victories to reinforce his political authority, allies of Gachagua maintain that his mobilization efforts in the vote-rich Mount Kenya region were critical to securing the 2022 victory.
As the political landscape shifts toward the 2027 General Election, the feud between the President and his former deputy promises to remain a defining element of national political discourse, testing whether past electoral longevity or current political influence carries more weight with Kenyan voters.
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