Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has claimed there is no contract for the planned extension of the Standard Gauge Railway from Naivasha to Malaba, accusing President William Ruto of misleading Kenyans through project announcements.

Speaking during a church service in Mombasa on Sunday, April 26, 2026, Gachagua said government officials had informed him that no agreement existed for the railway project.

“I have told the people of Nyanza, SGR extension from Naivasha to Malaba is a fraud,” he said.

“Some officers have called me from Kenya Railways this morning, others from the Ministry of Transport, and they have told me there is no contract. It’s another con.”

The former deputy president challenged Ruto to make the documents public if the agreement was genuine.

“I want to challenge William Ruto; if you have a contract for SGR, please publish it tomorrow. We see the commencement date and the date of completion,” Gachagua said.

He also claimed the Export-Import Bank of China had declined to finance the project.

“It is just a fraud to confuse the people of Luo Nyanza. But there is no contract, not even with Exim Bank of China. They have said they cannot fund that project. So there is nothing,” he added.

The SGR extension from Naivasha to the western region has remained one of the major transport projects under discussion, with leaders from the region pushing for its completion to link Kenya with neighbouring countries.

Rironi-Mau Summit Road

Gachagua also questioned the proposed Rironi-Mau Summit highway, saying there was no signed contract despite recent announcements.

He said engineers had contacted him with details about the project.

“Even engineers have called me from KeNHA. They have called the road from Rironi to Mau Summit that was launched by William Ruto with CRBC. Again, there is no contract. It’s a con game,” he said.

He again challenged the president to release the documents.

“I’m challenging William Ruto. If you have a contract for the construction of the road from Rironi to Mau Summit, can you publish that contract with a starting date and completion date?” he asked.

“As sure as December 25 is Christmas, he will not publish because there are no contracts.”

Gachagua also pointed to Kenya’s delayed talks with the International Monetary Fund, saying the setback showed growing mistrust in the government. He claimed the country was losing credibility with lenders because of poor governance and lack of transparency.

Referring to reports that negotiations over a new funding programme had stalled, Gachagua said the development should worry Kenyans, warning that failure to secure support could place more pressure on public finances already weighed down by debt repayments.

The former deputy president further accused the government of relaunching projects that had already been opened.

He cited a road project in Kangema, Murang’a County, saying machinery only arrived after the president had left.

“Rais ameenda Murang’a, pale Kangema. He has launched a road. By the time he reached Nairobi, equipment followed him,” he said.

Gachagua also referred to a local institution he said had earlier been opened by Ndindi Nyoro.

“Ameenda pale, an institution that was launched by the Kiharu Member of Parliament, anaitwa Ndindi Nyoro. Ile plate ilisema Ndindi Nyoro alifungua wametoa. Rais ameifungua tena,” he said.

Gachagua on SHA

On healthcare, Gachagua criticised the Social Health Authority (SHA), saying the system had failed many Kenyans.

“SHA is not working. William Ruto and Aden Duale are saying SHA is working,” he said.

He claimed teachers were struggling to access treatment and were being forced to pay extra for outpatient services.

“Teachers are in anguish. They are being forced to add money for them to get outpatient treatment,” he said.

Gachagua also claimed county hospitals lacked supplies and were owed money by the scheme.

“The county government hospitals have no drugs. There are no bandages. There are no gloves. There is nothing. Indeed, the county government hospitals are owed eight billion by SHA,” he said.

He urged teachers to demand the freedom to choose hospitals and push for a return to a different insurance arrangement.

Gachagua said Kenyans were beginning to understand the situation facing the country, blaming what he called repeated dishonesty in public affairs.