NAIROBI, Kenya — Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua now claims he secretly recorded critical conversations with allies of President William Ruto—recordings he says expose the pressure campaign that led to his impeachment.
In a revealing interview on April 7, Gachagua didn’t just point fingers. He pulled out the proverbial receipts.
According to him, several conversations involving top State House operatives—including one meeting allegedly requested by the president—are preserved in full audio.
“I recorded everything,” Gachagua said. “Every conversation I had with that officer sent to convince me—I have it.”
Tapes, Tension, and Betrayal
The Deputy President alleges that in the days leading up to his impeachment, he was approached by a presidential emissary for a hush-hush meeting. The offer? Step down quietly or face political obliteration.
While Gachagua avoided deep-diving into the financial details—having already addressed the Sh2 billion resignation package in a separate interview—he was crystal clear about the encounter itself.
“We met along State House Road. That officer asked me to reconsider. But I said no—and I hit record.”
If verified, these recordings could add an entirely new dimension to Kenya’s first-ever deputy presidential impeachment, offering a rare peek into alleged behind-the-scenes arm-twisting at the highest level of government.
The Loyalty Litmus Test
Gachagua says the real problem wasn’t policy—it was power. From clashing with political newcomers like Dennis Itumbi to refusing to “take orders” from MPs he outranked, the former DP claims he became a target simply for refusing to play along.
“They wanted a rubber stamp. I wasn’t going to be that,” he said.
He also blamed the collapse of their working relationship on internal appointments—specifically, the selection of Permanent Secretaries that he claims were made without consultation.
“I was insulted when I asked questions. That’s when I knew the partnership was over.”
Narratives for Every Region
In true political chess fashion, Gachagua accused the President of tailoring explanations for his removal depending on where he was speaking.
“In Western, I was tribal. In Nyanza, I was corrupt. But in Mount Kenya? He suddenly said I asked for Sh10 billion.”
That particular claim—already denied by Gachagua—was, in his view, a strategic talking point to justify their fallout without alienating the Mt. Kenya voting bloc.
“He told the region he would never betray me. So he needed a reason for why he did.”
If Gachagua’s political downfall was a drama, the secret recordings might just be the plot twist no one saw coming.
Whether those tapes ever surface remains to be seen—but their mere existence has added fuel to a fire that’s far from dying out.
