Poghisio explains why Gachagua is winning information war against Ruto
Former Majority Leader in the Senate, Samuel Poghisio, has said those close to President William Ruto have failed him when it comes to the information war.
Speaking to K24 TV on Friday, August 8, 2025, Poghisio, who was responding to Gachagua’s latest claim while in the US that Ruto is funding the South Sudan war, said the president’s allies have been too quiet when they should be actively countering such narratives.
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“Prime CS Mudavadi and others are the people who should be countering statements being made about Kenya outside,” Poghisio said.
“But if everyone goes quiet, people will believe what Rigathi is saying. If you cannot answer or respond to that claim, it means people can believe what they have heard.”
He urged those close to the president to take a more proactive approach in defending the government’s image instead of reacting emotionally or dismissively.
“It is good that those people close to the president, instead of throwing attacks and condemning, should come up with an alternative and say, ‘Here are the facts,’” Poghisio explained.
“But this guy is saying, ‘I know.’ In the absence of other knowledge, people tend to believe Gachagua more on what he claims about Kenya and the government.”
Poghisio’s remarks come amid growing political tension between allies of the president and Gachagua, whose public statements during his US trip have drawn both support and criticism back home.
Analysts say the lack of coordinated messaging from Ruto’s team has allowed Gachagua to dominate the narrative, especially on sensitive matters involving Kenya’s international image.
Political observers have also pointed out that in the current information landscape, silence can be interpreted as admission, making it even more crucial for government communicators to respond swiftly and with clarity.
All the same, Poghisio’s call appears to be a warning to the president’s inner circle that in the battle for public perception, facts must be presented quickly and persuasively before opposing voices shape the conversation.
