Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has accused President William Ruto of shifting his political attacks from the late Raila Odinga to him, saying the Head of State spent years criticising Raila but has now changed tone.

Gachagua spoke during a live interview on Thursday, March 25, a minutes after he claimed that authorities had tried to block his planned engagement with the Luo community.

In the interview, he said Ruto had campaigned against Raila for nearly a decade using harsh language, but now presents a different message.

“People keep on changing their minds. Huyu William Ruto anashinda kwa Wajaluo akitukana Rigathi Gachagua. Alikuwa mwaka tisa akitukana Raila. Leo anasema Baba ni mtu mzuri, wajaluo ni watu wazuri,” he said.

He added:

“Today, William Ruto is in Nyanza abusing me for five days, saying I’m this, I’m that, making me a bogeyman and attacking my community as a tribalist. For nine years, he was all over the country abusing Raila Odinga, kusema ni mchawi, ni mganga.”

Choir analogy

When asked about his own past remarks against Raila, Gachagua admitted he took part in the attacks but blamed Ruto’s leadership at the time.

“This is one leader called Raila Odinga. You have said I also say the same thing. It’s true, because in our campaign, it’s like a choir. William Ruto was the choir master. He was the composer of the song and the soloist,” he said.

“So while the choir members were following what the choir master is saying, yeye ndio alituambia hiyo maneno.”

He insisted the remarks were not originally his.

“No, it was not my song. That song was not mine. I was a member of the choir. Choir ilikuwa ya William Ruto, ya kupiga Raila Odinga. We were choir members,” he said.

‘The song has changed’

Pressed on whether he had changed his position, Gachagua said the political situation had shifted.

“I mean now I’m a choir master, so those who are behind me. I have a different song. The song has changed,” he said.

When challenged on why the public should trust him, he replied:

“It’s up to the people to believe… If they will listen to me and decide.”

He also defended himself against claims that he had previously made negative remarks about communities.

“William Ruto did it, not me,” he said when asked about statements describing the Luo community as violent.

Gachagua maintained that he only repeated what came from the top leadership at the time.

“I’ve given you a very good explanation that I was a part of a choir and our choir master was William Ruto. And our work was to repeat the chorus,” he said.

‘Politics of the day’

The former deputy president argued that the attacks on Raila happened during a political contest and should be viewed in that context.

“We were having a contest between Raila Odinga and his people. And that was the politics of the day,” he said.

“I am not in politics with Raila Odinga… There is no conflict. That was a contest. People are looking for positions.”

He said the current situation mirrors the past, with him now taking Raila’s former position as Ruto’s main rival.

“Why William Ruto now is abusing me, he was abusing Raila Odinga then because he was his competitor. Today, his most strongest competitor is Rigathi Gachagua. And so he has just changed tact,” he said.

No regret over remarks

Gachagua also refused to apologise for his own controversial statements, including remarks seen as personal attacks.

“I have not abused anyone myself,” he said.

When pressed on comments described as body-shaming, he stood firm.

“There is no apology to make. I described the way he looks. I did,” he said.

He also dismissed concerns about leadership standards under the Constitution.

“I’m not a state officer,” he said when asked about Chapter Six and Article 73 on integrity.

Asked again if he regretted his remarks, he said:

“I have not regretted whatsoever. I made a full description.”

Row over interview

The interview came minutes after Gachagua accused unnamed authorities of trying to block his appearance on Luo radio stations.

In a post on X, he said efforts had been made to interfere with the broadcast and deny the community a chance to hear him.

“Stop trying to have my engagement with the Luo Nation cancelled. It will not work,” he wrote.

He urged that all political voices be allowed equal access, saying the public should decide for themselves.

The remarks add to an ongoing public clash between Gachagua and Ruto, marked by sharp exchanges and personal attacks in recent weeks.