What Gachagua’s Clash with Ruto Means for Kenyan Politics—Don’t Miss This

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has reignited his political rivalry with President William Ruto after delivering a pointed message about his removal from government during a church address.

In remarks captured in a video circulating on Facebook, Gachagua appeared to question whether his political differences with the President had extended into religious spaces.

“Ruto, you chased me out of government, and now you want to chase me out of the church too?” Gachagua posed while addressing the congregation.

His statement drew attention because it revisited the bitter fallout that transformed the two leaders from political allies into fierce rivals.

Gachagua and Ruto worked together during the 2022 General Election, when they campaigned under the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket and defeated the Azimio coalition.

However, their relationship deteriorated amid disagreements over government leadership, political influence and the representation of Mt Kenya interests.

The conflict eventually culminated in Gachagua’s impeachment by Parliament in October 2024. The Senate upheld the impeachment, ending his tenure as Deputy President.

Since leaving office, Gachagua has remained an outspoken critic of the Kenya Kwanza administration and established the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), which is seeking to strengthen its political influence ahead of the 2027 General Election.

His latest remarks provide another indication that the disagreement between the former political partners remains unresolved.

The statement also raises questions about the continuing influence of their rivalry on Kenya’s political landscape as the next General Election approaches.

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