Gachagua: I have pushed Ruto, now he is crying like a rat in a trap
By Kenneth Mwenda, March 29, 2026Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua accused President William Ruto of abandoning his duties and neglecting urgent national issues during a rally at ACK Diocese of Kirinyaga in Ndia Constituency on Sunday, March 29, 2026.
Gachagua has stated that the President, now, when he stands on the sunroof to speak, says things that are difficult to understand.
“This man—I have pushed him, and now he is crying like a rat in a trap. Nifinye, nisifinye! Kasongo aangaishwe, asiangaishwe! Now he talks to himself in the car. When he stands on the sunroof to speak, he says things that are hard to understand because he is so confused. He stands on the vehicle and talks about someone whose cow died. Is the man not completely confused?” Gachagua said.
Gachagua also earlier criticised Ruto for failing to address serious problems in agriculture and healthcare. He said the president focuses on political campaigns rather than delivering essential services to Kenyans.
“It is not us who have told him to abandon his duties as president and to engage in rumours and gossip on top of the car every day. It is him,” Gachagua said.
The former deputy president said farmers are facing a severe fertiliser shortage at the start of the planting season. He accused the government of failing to supply the promised fertiliser, forcing farmers to buy it at higher market prices.
“If you look today, we have a big crisis in the agricultural sector. He announced publicly that there are two million bags of fertiliser in the stores. Today there is no single bag. The planting season is here. The rains are here. Not a single bag of fertiliser,” he said.
Farmers, hospitals face crisis
Gachagua dismissed government claims blaming international conflicts, such as the war in Iran, for the shortage. He said Kenyan farmers were left without any support.
“No arrangements were made to provide fertiliser for the Kenyan farmers. So farmers have no choice but to go to the agrovet and buy fertiliser at 6,500 instead of the subsidised fertiliser by government at 2,500. All farmers are in distress,” he said.
He added that even farmers from Ruto’s home region in Eldoret and Kericho had contacted him about the lack of fertiliser. According to Gachagua, the National Cereals and Produce Board has no stock because the president is “busy campaigning” and ignoring his responsibilities.
“He is top of the car dealing with trivial and petty issues at the expense of the Kenyan farmers,” he said.
Gachagua also warned that Kenya’s healthcare system could face collapse, citing the Social Health Authority (SHA).
“We have a big challenge with our hospitals. I have information that SHA will collapse in another six months, and there will be a major crisis of unknown magnitude in the health sector,” he said.
He noted that some hospitals are owed Ksh90 billion, putting them at risk of shutting down. He urged hospitals to demand release of funds and suggested they require upfront payments from SHA.
“If SHA collapses, all our hospitals will collapse, and we will have a very big crisis,” Gachagua said.
The rally in Kirinyaga was marked by strong rhetoric from Gachagua, with clear criticism of the president’s handling of the country’s agricultural and health priorities.