NAIROBI, Kenya – Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has accused President William Ruto of exploiting religion and enlisting “greedy bishops” in a desperate bid to shore up dwindling political support.
In a statement, Gachagua claimed Ruto rode to power by presenting himself as a devout Christian, only to abandon those values once in office and preside over what he described as widespread repression, economic hardship and institutional decay.
“He came with the Holy Bible and tears. He sang vernacular songs, memorised greetings from every community and donated millions in churches every Sunday,” Gachagua said.
Gachagua alleged that many Christians were “conned” into supporting Ruto, believing he was morally upright, only for the administration to later reveal what he termed its “true colours”.
Claims of abuse and economic mismanagement
The former DP accused the government of overseeing abductions, extrajudicial actions against young people and the misuse of anti-terrorism laws, allegations that the State has previously denied.
He further blamed the Ruto administration for what he said was the collapse of public education, the weakening of the healthcare system, failure to pay pending bills and the heavy taxation of workers.
“He raided payslips, turning the working class into beggars in their own country,” Gachagua said, also criticising the government’s handling of public resources and alleged sale of strategic State assets.
Churches turned into campaign platforms
According to Gachagua, President Ruto has now returned to churches with renewed “trickery” after facing criticism from sections of the clergy over governance and the economy.
He claimed that groups of hired cheerleaders are being ferried to church services using school buses, allegedly paid to chant slogans and portray organic support for the President.
Gachagua also alleged that church donations have increased sharply—from about Sh2 million to as much as Sh20 million per service—and that regalia for various church women’s groups has been procured to stage-manage enthusiasm during services.
“This is being done in agreement with some greedy bishops who are not preaching but campaigning,” he claimed.
Praise for churches resisting politics
Gachagua, however, said some denominations had resisted political manipulation, singling out the Catholic Church, the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA), the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK), and sections of evangelical churches for refusing to turn their pulpits into campaign platforms.
As he concluded his remarks, Gachagua used a proverb to underscore what he described as the President’s growing desperation.
“When the death of a monkey is imminent, all trees are slippery,” he said, adding that Kenyans were being sold “an imaginary Singapore” after, in his words, the destruction of “our beautiful Kenya”.
