NAIROBI, Kenya — Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has broken his silence—and he’s not mincing words.
In a sharply worded press briefing on Wednesday, July 8, Gachagua dismissed President William Ruto’s claims that ongoing nationwide protests are part of a plot to overthrow the government.
Instead, he accused the president of weaponizing fear to justify a crackdown on dissent.
“No one wants to overthrow your government,” Gachagua said bluntly. “The Wantam movement is not about unconstitutional means.
I, and those I work with, have made it clear—we want to remove you from State House through the ballot, not by force.”
Gachagua’s remarks came just hours after President Ruto launched into a fiery tirade during the unveiling of a police housing project at Kilimani Police Station in Nairobi.
Clearly agitated, Ruto accused unnamed political figures of fueling chaos across the country in a coordinated effort to unseat him ahead of the 2027 general election.
“I have been quiet, and I have tolerated these people who want to change the government using unconstitutional means—but enough is enough,” the President declared. “We will not allow it. We are coming for you.”
But Gachagua says the President’s outrage is misdirected—and possibly strategic.
According to the former Deputy President, Ruto is using the narrative of an “imaginary coup plot” to justify increasing state-sanctioned force, particularly through laws like the Terrorism Act.
“This narrative you’re building is designed to give you cover—an excuse to profile communities and persecute leaders who don’t support your administration,” he charged.
The political standoff is the latest chapter in Kenya’s intensifying power struggle, as protests—largely led by Gen Z activists and supported by segments of the opposition—continue to sweep across the country.
Demonstrators have cited everything from rising living costs to corruption and police brutality as reasons to take to the streets.
Ruto, however, sees a more sinister motive. His government has repeatedly pointed fingers at “sponsored elements” trying to destabilize the nation—a claim that critics say dangerously escalates tensions and undermines citizens’ constitutional right to protest.
Gachagua, once Ruto’s key ally, is now one of his most vocal critics. With 2027 looming in the political horizon, the former Deputy President is positioning himself as a voice of constitutional resistance—pushing back on any attempt to brand legitimate opposition as treasonous.
So while the President doubles down on law-and-order rhetoric, Gachagua is drawing a clear line: ballots, not bullets, will decide who leads Kenya next.
