Gachagua claims Ruto is frustrating Kindiki to make him resign
By Francis Muli, July 26, 2026Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has claimed that President William Ruto is deliberately frustrating Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, alleging that the head of state wants to push his deputy into resigning.
Speaking during a televised interview on Sunday, July 26, 2026, Gachagua said Kindiki is undergoing the same treatment he experienced before he was removed from office.
“Huyu mtoto wetu wa Tharaka anaumia, najua anachopitia kwa sababu nilipitia. Mimi nilikuwa kichwa ngumu, hakuna mtu angenitukana. Hata hii Junet wanaongea, ni Ruto amewaambia. Ruto ndiye anatesa Kindiki, Ruto amewaambia mpaka Kindiki akasirike ajiondoe,” Gachagua said.
He claimed that Kindiki had taken over his former office but was not making full use of it, insisting that he no longer had any interest in reclaiming the position.
“Kindiki took my seat which he doesn’t even use. In court, I said I don’t need that seat. The way they were threatening Ruto’s junior staff. You see how Junet is talking. These ODM people have been silenced because they were given money by Ruto, they don’t see Kindiki as a person,” he said.
The former deputy president further argued that opposition to Ruto is based on his leadership rather than the choice of his deputy.
“Tunapinga Ruto kwa sababu ya tabia zake za kuuwa Gen Z, kwa sababu ya tabia yake ya uwizi na udanganyifu. Hapingwi kwa sababu ako na Kindiki. Kindiki mwenyewe analia. Leo Junet amesema kutakuwa na muungano wa ODM na UDA. UDA itachukua President Ruto na hao watachukua DP Oparanya na saa hiyo Kindiki ako kwa kiti. Wameanza kumkosea heshima vile walikuwa wananikosea,” Gachagua said.
He also cautioned Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku against placing too much trust in Ruto, claiming several former allies had fallen out with the Head of State after working closely with him.
“I’ve told Ruku to read with me. Ruto is a person who uses people. Let him read with Linturi, let him read with Justin Muturi. All those people were his people, he has turned against us. Even he will come to turn against him. He turned against me over the words about shares. Tell Ruku, you can’t divide this mountain. Trying to divide this mountain is like cutting down mugumo trees with a razor,” he said.
This comes moments after National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed hinted that ODM could seek the deputy president’s position in a political arrangement with Ruto ahead of the 2027 general election, proposing Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya as the party’s preferred candidate.
Junet said ODM was working towards forming a government with Ruto in 2027, suggesting that if UDA retained the presidency, ODM would negotiate for the deputy president’s seat.
“Tumefanya nini? Sisi tunaenda kuungana na kutengeneza serikali ya 2027 na President William Samoei Ruto. Na UDA wakipata President, nani anapata Deputy? ODM wanataka nini? ODM watadai wapate Deputy President,” Junet said.
Junet endorses Oparanya
Junet cited Oparanya’s long service in ODM and close political ties with party leader Raila Odinga.