In a fiery broadside that has set Kenyan politics ablaze, former Deputy President and Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua has directly accused President William Ruto of shielding powerful drug traffickers inside his own Cabinet and protecting key figures behind a multi-million-dollar fraud scheme in Minnesota, USA.
Speaking at AIPCA Kiratina church in Kiambu County on Sunday, Gachagua tore into Ruto’s anti-narcotics rhetoric, daring the President to prove his seriousness by first purging his inner circle.
“I saw you yesterday talking tough about cocaine and heroin dealers, saying you’ll deal with them decisively,” Gachagua thundered in Swahili. “Start by sacking those two ministers everyone knows are drug barons in your Cabinet. Fire those drug lords you keep close, then we’ll believe you’re genuine.”
But the most explosive charge came when Gachagua linked Ruto personally to the Minnesota fraud scandal, alleging that the main suspects are the President’s own business partners – including the prominent owner of a major mall in Nairobi’s Eastleigh estate.
“The money stolen in Minnesota – those people involved are Ruto’s business associates,” he declared. “We’re asking you, President Trump: don’t waste time with Kenya’s extradition process. Do exactly what you did in Venezuela yesterday – come straight in and grab them – because Ruto has already vowed none of them will ever be handed over.”
Gachagua claimed the same network continues to profit handsomely from lucrative government contracts, including duty-free rice imports that he says are crippling local farmers in Mwea.
“That same guy is still tormenting Mwea farmers because he’s been awarded the contract to import rice duty-free,” he charged. “When the plane comes to pick up ‘Kasongo’ – whoever ends up extradited over the Minnesota millions – make sure this mall owner is loaded onto it too.”
The former Deputy President painted a picture of a government rotten at the core, accusing Ruto’s administration of basic governance failures – from delayed school capitation funds to allegedly discriminating against Mount Kenya students in national school placements.
“This government is totally confused – the fish rots from the head,” Gachagua said, dismissing recent polls showing Ruto enjoying majority support as “fake” surveys cooked up to reassure nervous financiers.
He also mocked Ruto’s frequent references to transforming Kenya into an African Singapore, snapping: “Stop fooling us with that Singapore nonsense. You found education and health systems working and wrecked them. First finish your ‘bottom-up’ promise before dreaming bigger.”
In a direct challenge laced with menace, Gachagua warned Ruto to stop sending surrogates to insult retired President Uhuru Kenyatta.
“Kasongo, Uhuru is not your agemate – you’re a young man. Show respect to our retired president,” he said. “If you’re man enough, stop hiding behind Junet, Wanga, and Ichung’wah. Come out and face us yourself. I’ve been decent with you so far, only scratching the surface. Keep provoking, and I’ll undress you completely.”
The blistering attack underscores the deepening rift between the once-close allies, with Gachagua positioning his fledgling DCP as the leading opposition force ahead of 2027. As the political temperature skyrockets, Kenyans are left wondering: will Ruto respond – or will the accusations simply fuel the fire?
