Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has issued a sharp rebuke to President William Ruto, urging him to either step down from office or face voters in 2027 no distractions, no deflections.
Speaking during an interview on NTV Friday night, Gachagua dismissed Ruto’s recent comments at the World MSME Day event in Nairobi, where the president challenged critics to offer a better plan instead of chanting “Ruto must go.” The president had insisted he would only consider stepping down if those opposing him could lay out a convincing alternative for the country.
But Gachagua wasn’t buying it.
“If Kenyans have said it’s time to go, then you must go,” he said. “You have two options: resign and leave with dignity, or wait for the ballot in 2027. But don’t take Kenyans in circles.”
The former deputy president also weighed in on the chaotic anti-government demonstrations held on Wednesday, June 25. While distancing himself from accusations that he had a hand in organizing the protests, Gachagua instead pointed fingers at the state, accusing it of staging the unrest to create confusion and shift blame.
He went further, calling out claims that the protests were part of a plot to overthrow Ruto’s administration. According to him, such talk is little more than a scare tactic meant to insulate the president from genuine public dissatisfaction.
“No one is planning to overthrow William Ruto,” Gachagua said. “These narratives about coups are just noise from his inner circle people trying to protect him from facing the truth. Kenyans are demanding reforms, not regime change.”
Gachagua also condemned the police response during the protests, citing instances of brutality and alleged state-linked violence. He accused the government of turning a blind eye as security forces failed to protect peaceful demonstrators and, in some cases, collaborated with criminal elements to escalate tensions.
“This regime has normalized police violence and is now weaponizing gangs for political ends. That’s dangerous and unacceptable,” he said.
The former deputy president’s remarks come amid rising public pressure on the Kenya Kwanza government, as frustrations grow over the state of the economy, governance, and national direction. Whether his words reflect political posturing or a deeper rift within the ruling coalition remains to be seen but one thing is clear: Gachagua is no longer whispering from the sidelines.
