Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has broken months of political silence with one of the most blistering counterattacks yet against President William Ruto’s administration, exposing a widening power rift at the heart of the Kenya Kwanza government. His fierce rebuttal came just hours after Ruto delivered his State of the Nation Address, reaffirming concerns that the ruling coalition is now grappling with internal fractures, mistrust, and competing visions for Kenya’s economic direction.
For months, Ruto and Gachagua have openly drifted apart. The Deputy President has been politically isolated in State House events, left out of key planning meetings, and reduced to handling ceremonial assignments. Behind the scenes, Kenya Kwanza insiders describe a cold war that has escalated since early 2024 — a battle for political survival, legitimacy, and control over the Mt Kenya voting bloc.
In his response to the President’s address, Gachagua abandoned diplomacy entirely. He accused Ruto’s inner circle of orchestrating a political campaign to humiliate him, marginalize the Mt Kenya region, and distort the government’s economic priorities. Gachagua claimed that Ruto had “abandoned the ordinary Kenyan,” pointing to an explosion in taxation, the collapse of critical services, and decision-making dominated by “technocrats who don’t understand real Kenyan struggles.”
He did not stop there. The Deputy President dismissed Ruto’s claim that the government was investing in development at unprecedented levels — especially roads and infrastructure. According to Gachagua, the President was “inventing achievements,” insisting that road construction had drastically slowed and that stalled projects outweigh the new ones launched under Kenya Kwanza. He also rebuked the narrative that the government’s development record compares to Singapore’s growth model, calling the comparison “misguided and deceptive.”
This internal confrontation comes at a delicate time. Kenya is grappling with ballooning public debt, a weakening shilling, rising unemployment, and high inflation. The Finance Act, housing levy, and new taxes on insurance, cars, and digital services have ignited public anger. Ruto’s popularity has sharply declined, while anti-government protests continue to erupt.
Gachagua seized this moment to position himself as the defender of “hustlers betrayed by their own government.” He condemned the President’s handling of the Social Health Authority (SHA), the failed Hustler Fund model, and rising corruption at the county and national levels. He said Kenyans were being forced to shoulder the burden of mismanagement while politically connected elites enrich themselves.
Political observers believe Gachagua’s fiery response may signal the opening shots of a 2027 succession battle. His messaging suggests he is drawing a line between himself and Ruto, branding himself as the authentic voice of the mountain — the region that delivered more than 2.6 million votes to Kenya Kwanza in 2022.
But the implications extend beyond personal rivalry. A divided presidency compromises policy execution, threatens investor confidence, and destabilizes a government already struggling with public trust. Multiple MPs from Mt Kenya have begun choosing sides, with some quietly shifting allegiance to Gachagua while others remain loyal to Ruto’s UDA faction driven by youthful leaders close to State House.
For now, the President has avoided responding directly to Gachagua’s attacks, but insiders say the silence is strategic — aimed at avoiding a public escalation. Still, the political storm is growing. If the two leaders fail to reconcile, Kenya could be headed toward a full-blown internal implosion ahead of the 2027 election.
In the end, Gachagua’s statement did more than challenge the President. It exposed a government divided between its founding promises and current realities — and one trying desperately to maintain unity as frustrations boil over across the country.