President William Ruto launched a scathing attack on his former deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, on Monday, branding him a “chief extortionist” and alleging that the former deputy president has been demanding millions of shillings from businesspeople and political aspirants seeking his support.
Speaking at a roadside rally in Nyangori, Kitutu Masaba Constituency, Nyamira County, Ruto accused Gachagua of turning his new political vehicle, the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), into a money-making enterprise.
The president alleged that aspirants seeking DCP tickets were being charged exorbitant fees, including a claim that even securing an opportunity to address a rally required a payment of Ksh50,000.
“He is an extortionist. He is demanding money from those who want to vie for positions using his party ticket,” Ruto said, switching between English and Swahili. “When we gave him the job of fighting alcohol abuse, he extorted money from traders and businesspeople”.
The president further alleged that Gachagua had demanded Ksh10 million from one gubernatorial aspirant and Ksh20 million from another.
“Every person who comes to you must give money. I don’t know, a governor gives 10 million, another gives 20 million,” Ruto claimed. “To the extent that even to take a microphone like this, you must pay Sh50,000”.
In a direct and personal rebuke, Ruto told his former running mate to “shut up” and respect Kenyan voters. “Please respect Kenyans. You are an extortionist and you have no moral authority to lecture us. Just shut up!” he said.
Ruto also dismissed Gachagua’s repeated claims that he was instrumental in securing the presidency in 2022.
The president contrasted their political records, noting that he had been elected seven times while Gachagua had served only one term as a Member of Parliament for Mathira.
“Anazunguka kila mahali kwamba mimi ndiye nimefanya Ruto awe president. Mtu one-term MP anazunguka dunia hii yote. Mimi nimechaguliwa mara saba, wewe mara moja,” he said.
Ruto further claimed that during the UDA running mate selection process, Gachagua received only four votes from the Mt Kenya MPs’ caucus, and that he personally intervened out of sympathy.
The fierce exchange marks the latest chapter in a dramatic fallout between the two leaders who rode to power together in 2022 on a joint ticket.
Their relationship began to fracture publicly during the June 2024 Finance Bill protests, when Gachagua openly criticised the National Intelligence Service and appeared to distance himself from the government’s handling of the crisis.
The rupture culminated in October 2024, when Gachagua was impeached by the National Assembly and subsequently convicted by the Senate on five of eleven grounds, including allegations of ethnic division and abuse of office. He was replaced by Kithure Kindiki.
In June 2026, Kenya’s High Court upheld the impeachment but found that Gachagua’s right to a fair hearing had been violated when the Senate refused to adjourn proceedings after he fell ill.
The court awarded him Ksh50 million in constitutional damages, an award Gachagua rejected as an “insult”.
Since his ouster, Gachagua has reinvented himself as a leading opposition figure and established the DCP, which has made significant inroads in the Mt Kenya region.
A July 2026 by-election in Ol Kalou saw the DCP candidate defeat the UDA contender by a wide margin, signalling the party’s growing influence.
Several prominent leaders from the region, including governors and MPs, have since defected from UDA or announced they will not defend their seats on the ruling party’s ticket.
Gachagua responded swiftly to Ruto’s accusations, taking to social media to mock the president as “Mr Six Months” and accusing him of failing to deliver development to the Gusii region.
“In four years, Ruto has done nothing for them. No roads, no water, no electricity, no airport, nothing. ZERO!” he wrote.
The former deputy president also warned Ruto against interfering with DCP aspirants, referencing the Ol Kalou by-election defeat.
“Leave DCP aspirants alone, or you will get another egg in the face,” he said, promising a “full dose” of political confrontation in the 2027 General Election.
“We shall apply a double Olkalou template in all 290 constituencies across the country. You will have no escape route to rig the elections, intimidate any public servant, or misuse our police service or any state agency”.
