As Kenya grapples with mounting economic challenges, claims of corruption, and a series of unresolved extrajudicial killings, a fierce political clash between Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and President William Ruto is drawing attention away from the nation’s most pressing issues, according to prominent activist Morara Kebaso.
In a fiery social media post on Monday, September 23, 2024, Kebaso expressed concern that the ongoing rift between the two political heavyweights is deliberately distracting the public from key matters like youth unemployment, corruption, and the controversial Adani airport deal.
“The war between Gachagua and Ruto is taking away focus from Adani,” Kebaso warned in his post.
“The nation’s attention is shifting from corruption, poor economy, police killings to selfish Mount Kenya politics. It looks very calculated.”
Kebaso’s remarks follow weeks of growing tension between Gachagua, who has been accused of consolidating his political base in the Mount Kenya region, and President Ruto, who appears to be distancing himself from his deputy in preparation for the 2027 elections.
This political manoeuvring, Kebaso argues, is undermining the broader national conversation about Kenya’s future.
Instead of addressing the issues that have fueled discontent across the country, the focus has shifted to regional power plays and tribal allegiances, he said.
“We need to do something otherwise, your message of change in Kenya will be lost in the noise. It also poses a problem where the people of Mount Kenya, out of emotion, might jump from the frying pan into the fire and use their numbers to give us the worst president in the history of Kenya,” Kebaso added.
Kebaso’s critique draws attention to what many observers see as a worrying trend in Kenyan politics: a recurring focus on tribal allegiances and personal rivalries at the expense of broader national issues.
According to Kebaso, this dynamic could pave the way for another divisive election, similar to the 2022 race where Ruto capitalized on regional grievances to clinch the presidency.
“Same card Ruto played on [former President] Uhuru [Kenyatta],” Kebaso noted. “As it stands now, they are very sympathetic to Gachagua. Hence my question: Have politicians won again? Have we once more lost the chance to change Kenya?”
The activist pointed to the waning attention on the Adani airport deal, a controversial agreement with the Indian conglomerate Adani Group, which has sparked claims of corruption, as a sign that the country’s priorities are being obscured.
The deal had been the subject of intense scrutiny, with critics questioning the transparency of the bidding process and potential national security risks.
“The conversation in Kenya is changing Kebaso observed.
“From Adani Airport, SHIF (Strategic Health Insurance Fund), corruption, economic strife, bad governance and extrajudicial killings to Gachagua sympathy and consolidating tribal bases for 2027. Assisted by media, they are changing the mood of the nation from accountability to defence of tribal chiefs.”
Kebaso’s concerns are not isolated. Analysts have long noted that Kenya’s political landscape is often shaped by regional and ethnic loyalties, which can divert attention from substantive policy debates.
With the 2027 elections looming, the risk is that these dynamics could deepen, further entrenching the political status quo and sidelining efforts to tackle systemic issues.
“Ruto is behind the whole game to shift our focus,” Kebaso claimed.
“We need to do something. If we lose the conversation, we lose the game. We need something serious. We need something big. And we need it now,” he said.
The activist’s call to action has resonated with a growing number of Kenyans frustrated by the country’s slow progress on economic reforms and persistent corruption. However, whether this wave of discontent can translate into meaningful political change remains to be seen.
As the political drama between Gachagua and Ruto continues to unfold, Kebaso and other activists are left grappling with a crucial question: Can Kenya’s leaders and its citizens refocus on the issues that matter most, or will the country’s political future be shaped once again by personal rivalries and tribal loyalties?
