Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has accused President William Ruto of using the ongoing fuel scandal to protect his own business interests.

Speaking on Saturday, April 4, 2026, in Murang’a, Gachagua said the recent arrests of petroleum sector officials were not about wrongdoing but rather about competition with Ruto’s Government-to-Government (G-to-G) fuel arrangements.

“The accusation is that they have brought in substandard fuel. That is not true. I want to tell the people of Kenya the truth,” Gachagua said.

He explained that the G-to-G framework, introduced when Ruto came into government, is meant to channel government fuel purchases to certain companies under fixed agreements. In reality, Gachagua claims, it is these companies that profit.

“Two companies, one owned by somebody from Meru, a proxy of Kasongo, and the other, owned by the one who grabbed the hotel for Raphael Tuju, again a proxy of William Ruto, are the ones doing business for petroleum. As we were expecting a crisis due to challenges in Iran, the CEO of EPRA and the CEO of Kenya Pipeline decided to get cheaper fuel for Kenyans. They acted in the national interest, but because they brought competition to Ruto’s business, they were arrested,” Gachagua said.

Cheaper fuel

“They decided to get cheaper fuel so that they can help cushion the people of Kenya from price hikes. And then the people who run the G-to-G on behalf of William Ruto reported to him that these people have brought competition with you, and you are going to lose your profit. That is why they have been arrested. Because they are in competition with William Ruto. Because William Ruto is in the petroleum business through the G2G arrangement,” the former deputy president added.

He described the officials in custody as patriots, insisting they acted to reduce fuel costs for the public.

“They are heroes of this country. They will be taken to court on trumped-up charges. The only crime they committed is denying William Ruto profit,” he added.

“But the truth of the matter is that they are in competition with William Ruto, and they have denied him profit.”

Gachagua also criticised the government’s tax policies, which he said exacerbate the situation.

“William Ruto increased VAT by 8 per cent and added a 7-shilling fuel levy. This fuel levy has been used to borrow Ksh175 billion from banks. This Ksh175 billion is what him and … have been going around bribing people in Kenya. The only way to stabilise prices is to remove the VAT and the levy. But he won’t because he wants profit. Fuel may go up by 40 shillings per litre,” he warned.

He accused Ruto of using the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) as a tool of coercion.

“The DCI has become a tool to intimidate competitors. Recently, people were arrested at Nairobi railways for competing with …., a proxy for William Ruto,” Gachagua said.

Attempts to appoint a Ugandan as CEO

The former deputy president also raised concerns about the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC), highlighting attempts to appoint a Ugandan as CEO.

“The CEO of Kenya Pipeline, Sang, he has already been replaced with somebody who is acting. Ruto is very happy because the man is his tribesman, but he did a deal with … Kenya Pipeline has been bought by … and others after Kenyans refused to buy it. He demanded the CEO must be Ugandan. This is opaque and unacceptable,” he said.

He further warned about the misuse of public funds.

“Money from pension funds and unclaimed assets has been illegally used to buy Kenya Pipeline. When we take over, the directors of unclaimed assets and state corporations will face court. They are acting illegally under Ruto’s instructions,” Gachagua added.

“I want to give a very serious warning to the directors of the unclaimed assets that when we take over, we will take you to court because you have no business getting money from unclaimed assets to invest in Kenya Pipeline. That is money for the people of Kenya, and it’s against the law.”

“And there are also trustees and directors of state corporations and managers of pension funds. William Ruto is using you to do illegal things. You will have your day in court when he is gone to Sugoi. In another 15 months, we will come for you. And all those who are doing illegal things against the law, against the rules and regulations that govern those institutions, you will have your day in court.”

Ndindi Nyoro shares similar sentiments

Gachagua’s statements align with concerns also raised by Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro, who also criticised attempts to interfere with the G-to-G system. Nyoro said the scandal highlights a broader pattern of patronage.

“The bigger mistake they did was to usurp the G-to-G arrangement, which is a domain of their bosses, and tried to take business away from the architects of G-to-G,” Nyoro said. He also pointed to overlaps with Turkana oil exploitation, warning that leaders are taking advantage of crises to profit while sidelining private capital.

Nyoro called for urgent action to protect consumers, including reducing or suspending the 8 per cent VAT on fuel, withdrawing the 7-shilling fuel levy, and ensuring clear communication to prevent hoarding.

“Levies and taxes account for around 50 per cent of pump prices. The government has room to act now before the 14th of April,” he said.

The controversy follows the resignation of Petroleum PS Mohamed Liban, KPC MD Joe Sang, and EPRA DG Daniel Kiptoo. Investigations suggest emergency fuel shipments were overpriced and possibly substandard.

Authorities are also examining falsification of local fuel stock data, which triggered the emergency procurement outside the G-to-G framework.