Gachagua spills secrets on how Ruto used to silence him behind closed doors
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has broken his silence on the power struggles and behind-the-scenes intimidation he faced from President William Ruto during his tumultuous two years in office.
In an exclusive interview on Kameme FM on Monday, March 17, 2025, Gachagua revealed how Ruto used threats and political manoeuvring to silence him before his impeachment in October 2024.
Gachagua, who became Kenya’s second in command in September 2022, detailed a strained working relationship characterized by what he described as intimidation and blackmail from the head of state.
“When I spoke out about something being done wrong, President Ruto would threaten me. He would say that he chose me as his Deputy, that other leaders did not want me in that position, and that he was able to pay MPs and Senators to impeach me,” Gachagua claimed.
Internal tensions from the start
According to Gachagua, tensions between him and the President began early in their administration.
He suggested that despite their public display of unity during the 2022 election campaign, friction emerged almost immediately after they took office.
“From the beginning, President Ruto knew that I’m not a ‘Yes Sir’ type of person. But he still chose me to be his Deputy because of the influence I had during the campaign period,” Gachagua asserted.
The former Deputy President portrayed himself as a vocal critic within the administration, often challenging decisions he believed were misguided.
However, his outspokenness came at a cost, as he claimed that Ruto repeatedly used the threat of impeachment to curb his dissent.
The road to impeachment
Gachagua’s impeachment in October 2024 marked a dramatic fall from power.
It followed months of public disagreements between the two leaders and accusations that he was undermining the administration’s agenda.
Insiders at the time described the process as a well-coordinated effort led by Ruto loyalists within Parliament.
During the Kameme TV interview, Gachagua claimed that Ruto actively orchestrated his removal by leveraging political influence and financial resources to sway lawmakers against him.
The revelations have reignited debate over the state of the country’s executive branch and the balance of power between the President and Deputy President.
Gachagua’s supporters argue that his removal was a calculated move to consolidate Ruto’s authority and silence dissenting voices within the government.
Despite his ouster, Gachagua has signalled that he had no intention of retreating from the political arena.
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Martin Oduor
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