NAIROBI, Kenya- Former Deputy President and Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua has declared that President William Ruto’s administration has failed to deliver on the promises contained in the Kenya Kwanza government’s 2022 manifesto.
Speaking in Nairobi on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, Gachagua delivered what he described as an “accountability statement and performance audit” of Ruto’s four years in office, arguing that the administration had fallen short across the economy, governance, healthcare, education, agriculture and security.
Gachagua said the 2022 election was based on a political covenant between Kenya Kwanza and voters, anchored on the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
He argued that four years later, the government had failed to translate the commitments in the plan into tangible improvements in the lives of ordinary Kenyans.
“The verdict is unmistakable. THE PLAN has failed. It is hollow and deceptive!” Gachagua said.
He accused the administration of abandoning the principles it campaigned on and instead presiding over what he described as rising taxation, increased public debt, declining household purchasing power and growing economic pressure.
Gachagua cited fuel prices as one of the indicators of what he termed the government’s failure to reduce the cost of living.
He noted that Super Petrol had risen from Sh159.12 per litre in August 2022 to Sh214.03, while diesel had increased from KSh140 to Sh222.86.
According to Gachagua, the increases had contributed to higher transport and food costs while reducing disposable income for households.
He also criticised the government’s borrowing programme, claiming Kenya’s public debt had risen from KSh8.66 trillion in August 2022 to KSh13.02 trillion.
Gachagua further accused the administration of failing to deliver on its promises to support young people and small businesses through the Hustler Fund.
He questioned the effectiveness of the programme, arguing that some of the loans disbursed were too small to establish sustainable businesses and that high default rates had undermined its intended purpose.
On healthcare, Gachagua attacked the transition from NHIF to the Social Health Authority, arguing that the new system had failed to provide the level of healthcare protection promised to Kenyans.
He also criticised the discontinuation of Linda Mama and Edu Afya, saying the changes had increased the financial burden on families.
Education was another major area of concern in his assessment.
Gachagua claimed that government capitation to schools had failed to keep pace with rising costs and accused the administration of creating instability in higher education financing.
He also pointed to the financial difficulties facing public universities, arguing that their debt burden had increased substantially since 2022.
In agriculture, Gachagua accused the government of failing to deliver on its promise to invest heavily in the sector and improve farmer incomes.
He cited challenges facing tea, sugar, rice and dairy farmers, while criticising the government’s decision to allow duty-free rice imports.
He also questioned the progress of the government’s affordable housing programme, arguing that the housing levy had placed an additional burden on workers.
Gachagua further accused the administration of failing to fulfil its promise to address state capture and cronyism within its first 30 days in office.
He alleged that strategic public assets and government procurement had increasingly become vulnerable to political and commercial interests.
The DCP leader also criticised Parliament, accusing lawmakers of failing to adequately perform their oversight role over the Executive.
Gachagua concluded his assessment by arguing that the administration had moved from one plan to another without adequately implementing its earlier commitments.
He cited BETA, the National Dialogue Committee process and the government’s Ten-Point Agenda before questioning the rationale for asking Kenyans to embrace another long-term plan.
“You cannot fail today and ask us to trust you tomorrow for some distant, far-off future,” he said.
Gachagua said the next general election would provide Kenyans with an opportunity to judge the administration based on its record.
He described the “WANTAM” campaign as a verdict on performance rather than simply a political slogan.
“Leadership is judged by results, not by promises,” Gachagua said.
