Nairobi, Kenya- Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has launched a scathing attack on Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, accusing them of wasting time and misleading Kenyans with what he termed as “public relations stunts” on alcohol regulation and drug control.
In a fiery post on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, Gachagua accused the Ruto administration of deliberately dismantling the tough anti-illicit alcohol and drug control measures he had spearheaded during his time in office.
“CS Interior, you are wasting your time and enjoying the people of Kenya and treating them as fools,” Gachagua wrote. “While in office, I put practical measures to curb illicit alcohol and check drug abuse… we successfully eliminated illicit and poisonous alcohol and brought sobriety among our brothers and sisters.”
Gachagua Claims Reforms Were Sabotaged by Ruto’s Team
According to Gachagua, his anti-drug initiatives were effective and measurable. He claimed that under his oversight, many young people abandoned substance abuse, started families, and engaged in productive activities.
He further noted that the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) recorded increased excise duty revenues as more Kenyans turned to legitimate, tax-compliant alcohol outlets.
However, Gachagua claims that all those gains were reversed by the current administration under President William Ruto. He specifically accused a Principal Secretary (PS) in the Interior Ministry of reinstating manufacturers of illicit brews that had previously been shut down.
“Your PS personally looked for manufacturers of illicit alcohol that we had shut down and authorized them to continue manufacturing and distributing poison,” he alleged.
He also lamented the withdrawal of budgetary support from a rehabilitation programme that had been run by the then Deputy President’s spouse, which he said was helping thousands of youths overcome addiction.
Accusations of Political Manipulation and Double Standards
Gachagua further claimed that the government was intentionally keeping Kenyans addicted and unproductive to make them susceptible to handouts and political manipulation.
“Mr. William Ruto wants zombies among our population to continue manipulating them with cash handouts for political control,” he said.
He didn’t stop there. Gachagua called out the President for allegedly appointing individuals with known drug trafficking records to the Cabinet.
Without naming names, he described them as “two colleagues with a history of destroying our youths by selling hard drugs,” branding them “international drug lords.”
“How does anybody trust you will sack public officials for abetting the sale of drugs before you ask your boss to deal with your two colleagues?” he questioned.
Calls for Implementation Over Drama
In his closing remarks, the former DP dismissed recent press conferences and proposed regulations as political theatre. He insisted that existing laws are sufficient and only require enforcement.
“We have sufficient laws and other regulations on alcohol. Implement them. Spare Kenyans the joke and get to work.”
Context: Government’s Renewed War on Illicit Alcohol
Gachagua’s criticism comes days after Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen announced stricter enforcement of alcohol-related laws, including plans to freeze assets of those profiting from illicit brews and drugs.
The government has positioned the crackdown as a response to growing public concern over the rise of toxic alcohol and substance abuse in many parts of the country.
However, Gachagua’s remarks suggest deep political fault lines within the ruling coalition, as well as simmering tension between the former second-in-command and his former boss, President Ruto.
