Gachagua claims Ruto deported Chinese contractors over Ksh7B rail row
By Kenneth Mwenda, March 15, 2026Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has accused President William Ruto of deporting Chinese contractors to favour a higher bid on the British-funded Railway City project.
He said the move would cost Ksh7 billion and claimed the funds were to be used to support Ruto’s reelection campaign.
Speaking on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at an interdenominational church service at Kirathani Grounds in Ithanga, Gatanga Constituency, Murang’a County, Gachagua claimed the project’s original winning contractor, China Railway, was blocked from executing the tender despite quoting Ksh22 billion. Another company had quoted Ksh29 billion, and Gachagua claimed Ruto instructed Kenya Railways to award the higher bid.
“Yesterday, kuna kitu inaitwa Railway City; it’s a grant from the British government. Tender imefanywa Wachinese wanaitwa China Railway wameshinda, a Ksh22 billion. Hataki wafanye. Iko kampuni ingine, wamequote Ksh29 billion. Difference of Ksh7 billion. Ameambia Kenya Railways patia wale wa Ksh29 billion, not Ksh22 billion. Ndio hii billioni saba atumie kwa uchaguzi,” he said.
Gachagua added that the directors of China Railway had been deported to prevent them from appealing the procurement decision.
“Hawa wa Ksh22 billion, wameenda appeals tribunal, ya procurement. Unajua vile Kasongo amefanya? Jana asubuhi woote wamesanywa, wamekuwa deported, wamewekwa ndege, wamerudishwa China, ndio hiyo kesi ikwishe,” he claimed.
He said he would bring the matter to both the British and Chinese governments.
“So we are asking the British government, please, there is no way you can agree to give that grant, and seven billion shillings are stolen and taken for Ruto’s reelection,” Gachagua said.
“We will be giving more details in the next two days to the British Embassy and the Chinese Embassy because we are asking the Republic of China to protest the deportation of directors of China Railway by William Ruto so that they are denied business, yet they can save the country and the British Government seven billion.”
Business expansion claims
Gachagua also accused Ruto of expanding into multiple business sectors, affecting both public and private enterprises.
“Huyu sasa, amenyang’anya wanabiashara wote biashara Kenya. Ako kwa kila sector ya biashara. Ameingia manufacturing, ako na kampuni mbili manufacturing steel. Amenunua kampuni ya cement. Amenunua kampuni ya tiles. Na ndio ameweka very heavy tax on imported tiles, ndio kampuni yake iuze tiles Jamhuri yote ya Kenya,” he said.
He said the move had impacted affordable housing.
“Chuma, simiti na tiles, ndio anasukumia sisi affordable housing kwa sababu ndio anauza chuma na simiti na tiles,” Gachagua added.
Nairobi Hospital takeover claims
The former deputy president claimed Ruto was also targeting the medical sector.
“Ametoka hapo ameingilia medical business. Saa hii anataka kuchukua Nairobi Hospital. Ile hospitali ya kifahari,” he said. He claimed that hospital board members were detained to force resignations.
“Jana all the board members wamekamatwa. Wamekuwa wakisukumwa wabadilishe sheria ndio Kasongo achukue Nairobi Hospital, wakakataa. So, polisi wametumika wamekuwa rounded up wote. Wamefungiwa different police stations; watashtakiwa kesho na mashtaka ya uongo, ndio walazimishwe wajiuzulu, waweke board mpya.”
Other sectors
Gachagua said Ruto controlled insurance, education, hospitality, and banking.
“Ameingia biashara ya insurance. Police insurance scheme, ni yake. Ile insurance scheme ya civil servants ni yake. Ametoka hapo ameingia kwa mambo ya masomo. Anajenga University in Eldoret. Aliingilia mambo ya fuliza, fuliza ni yake. Alichukua kutoka Safaricom. Ametoka hapo amechukua e-citizen. Ako na 80 per cent share ya e-citizen,” he said.
On hospitality and banking, he added:
“Kule Maasai Mara ata amefunga mto, ile wanyama wanapitia. Kazi yote ya conferences and seminars ya serikali, inapelekwa hoteli yake ya Weston. Ametoka hapo, ameingilia mambo ya banking. Amenunua bank ambayo pesa yote ya affordable housing, pesa ya SHA, ametoa hiyo pesa yote kwa mabenki ya serikali ameweka kwa hiyo bank. Hiyo bank every day inatengeneza faida ya 21 million.“