He is Frustrated & Disappointed – Gachagua Fires Back at Ruto

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has clapped back at President William Ruto, who recently criticised him for allegedly dividing Kenyans along ethnic lines.

Addressing the congregation at NARC Kenya party leader Martha Karua’s home in Gichugu, Kirinyaga County, on Saturday, January 25, Gachagua dismissed Ruto’s allegations, stating that he supported the latter despite being from a different tribe.

The former DP who spoke during his reconciliatory meeting with the former Azimio principal claimed that it was an insult to the Kikuyu community for the president to publicly accuse him of being tribal.

While taking a dig at the Head of State, Gachagua claimed that President Ruto’s onslaught against him in Western Kenya was out of frustration and disappointment.

According to the former deputy president, Ruto’s frustration was mainly due to the strong opposition by Mt Kenya region people, who he claimed were against the president because of political betrayal.

“I, Rigathi Gachagua, am not tribal because I supported President William Ruto, and he is not a Kikuyu. 87 per cent of the people of Mykinsmen voted for him, knowing very well he is not a Kikuyu,” Gachagua claimed.

“We are nationalists, and it is insulting to this community for the president to go around calling us tribal. We know he is unhappy, frustrated, and bitter that our people have left him.”

Gachagua was responding to Ruto over the remarks he made in Vihiga on Wednesday, where he criticised the former DP for being incompetent, tribal, and corrupt.

“There are people who are attempting to lead us into hateful and tribal politics that is meant to divide Kenyans. There are people we gave jobs, but because they are clueless and corrupt, they sunk and will continue sinking,” Ruto said.

Meanwhile, Gachagua’s sentiments were echoed by Martha Karua, who also took a swipe at President Ruto, accusing him of being a dictator and contravening the Constitution by allegedly orchestrating abductions.

Karua, who has been vocal against President Ruto’s regime, once called for his resignation, citing a lack of accountability and the Head of State’s failure to uphold the rule of law.

“When you are given an opportunity for leadership in Kenya, that is not a title deed. Kenya doesn’t belong to you, it belongs to all of us. You cannot start doing things that are not in the Constitution. We will say ‘no’ because sovereignty belongs to the people,” Karua said.

“Ruto should remember that he was fired from his job in June last year. Once the people reject you, resign and go home. We have seen people resigning all over the world. There is nothing special about Ruto.”