Gachagua: It will be difficult for Kenya to recover after Ruto’s regime
By Kenneth Mwenda, May 21, 2026Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has launched a fresh attack on President William Ruto, claiming the country will have a hard time recovering following widespread corruption cases.
Gachagua linked his remarks, made during an interview in the United Kingdom on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, to wider accusations of corruption, saying key public assets had already been exhausted.
“As we speak today, they are through with public institutions,” Gachagua said. “That is why now they are going for private land. They look for a big piece of land, 200 acres, where the owner died. They try to grab it because they have sold all the national assets.”
He argued that the country was heading towards a point where recovery would be difficult.
“There’s nothing that is remaining,” Gachagua said. “We shall have a very difficult time because we have to start from scratch to restore the Kenyan nation.”
He also framed leadership as a matter of integrity and service, especially for younger politicians.
“Leadership is about integrity. Leadership is about service,” he said. “As long as they come to leadership knowing they are coming to serve, not to make money, they will be great leaders.”
Wealth ambitions
The former Mathira Member of Parliament also said that Ruto’s ambition was to become richer than the families of retired presidents Jomo Kenyatta and Daniel Moi.
“When we were in good books, he told me that he wants, in five years, to be richer than the families of Kenyatta and Moi combined,” Gachagua said. “It looked odd to me.”
Gachagua claimed that this ambition had now materialised.
“It is true today, William Ruto is richer than the family of Kenyatta and the family of Moi combined after only four years in government,” he said. “But in the process, he has destroyed the country.”
He did not provide evidence for the wealth comparison or the claim of national decline.
Running mate dilemma and political fallout
The former deputy president also expanded on his long-running claim that Ruto faces difficulties finding a strong running mate ahead of the 2027 election, arguing that trust issues have weakened the president’s political base.
“He wanted me as a running mate, but he didn’t want me as his deputy,” Gachagua said. “He wanted me as a guy to mobilise numbers. Thereafter, become a flower girl.”
He said he refused to take a passive role in government.
“I couldn’t be a flower girl,” he said. “So he had to get rid of me and get a flower girl.”
Gachagua argued that this fallout has created mistrust among potential political allies.
“When you pick a running mate, you misuse him to get your numbers,” he said. “When you are set for the presidency, you get rid of him. He has a serious trust deficit.”
He claimed that Ruto is now engaging multiple leaders in search of a deputy ahead of 2027.
“He is promising everybody as he’s looking for numbers,” Gachagua said, naming several leaders he said had been approached. “He’s lost. He doesn’t know what to do.”
He further argued that no leader can easily transfer voting blocs from one political figure to another.
“The loyalty of the Luo nation to Raila Odinga cannot be transferred to Oburu Odinga and then to William Ruto,” he said. “That is very difficult.”
Gachagua compared the situation to past political realignments and warned that picking the wrong running mate could hurt Ruto’s campaign either way.
“Whatever he does, he’s doomed,” he said. “Getting a running mate who can mobilise serious numbers is not a walk in the park.”
Claims on foreign firms and road projects
In a separate line of criticism, Gachagua also targeted foreign contractors and recent infrastructure agreements, questioning deals involving French and Chinese firms in Kenya’s road sector.
He dismissed the recent diplomatic engagement with France as superficial.
“It’s only William Ruto who thinks he is anything,” he said. “Kenyans know he is not.”
He focused on the Rironi–Mau Summit road project, claiming that an earlier contract worth Ksh151 billion was cancelled and replaced with a compensation deal to French firms.
“They discussed how to get some money out of the whole thing, cancel the contract, and pay the French companies 7.1 billion shillings without doing anything,” Gachagua said.
He further claimed that funds were shared between leaders, though he provided no evidence.
“3.5 billion for President William Ruto, 3.5 billion for President Macron,” he claimed.
He then shifted attention to a Chinese contractor involved in multiple infrastructure projects, alleging inflated costs and irregular tender processes.
“They are the biggest conduit of corruption in Kenya,” he said.
He also warned public fund managers against what he described as misuse of pension and levy funds, saying those involved would face legal consequences under a future administration.
“Next year, they will have their day in court,” he said. “All the assets that have been stolen will be reclaimed.”
Gachagua concluded by positioning himself as a long-time insider with deep knowledge of government operations.
“I am a walking information box,” he said. “I know what is going on in government.”
He added that any future leadership must focus on accountability and rebuilding public trust.