1:36min: Gachagua’s Scathing Attack on Ruto’s Four-Year Record

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has launched a scathing attack on President William Ruto’s administration, accusing it of corruption, economic mismanagement, state capture and abandoning the principles of the “Hustler” movement that propelled it to power.

In a wide-ranging assessment of the government’s record, Gachagua alleged that the administration had used state power to benefit politically connected individuals while imposing a growing financial burden on ordinary Kenyans.

The former Deputy President made a series of serious allegations concerning public procurement, government contracts, the Affordable Housing Programme, healthcare financing and the management of public revenue. The claims could not independently be verified from the address alone.

Claims of personal enrichment and state capture

Gachagua accused the President of using his executive authority to facilitate personal enrichment, alleging that Ruto had amassed wealth at an unprecedented rate through access to public resources

He singled out the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), which he described as an alleged conduit for corrupt proceeds, claiming the company had secured tenders worth KSh1.2 trillion under Ruto’s supervision

He also alleged that Weston Hotel, which he linked to the President, had secured 37 public contracts worth hundreds of millions of shillings from various government departments

Affordable housing programme under scrutiny

Gachagua also questioned the management of the Affordable Housing Programme, portraying it as a business venture benefiting individuals connected to the administration

He alleged that the President was a major beneficiary of the supply of construction materials, including steel and cement, through businesses he claimed were associated with Ruto.

The former Deputy President further alleged that proceeds from the housing levy were being used to support Sidian Bank, which he claimed was linked to the President

He cited an increase in the bank’s assets from KSh42 billion in 2022 to KSh95 billion, although he did not provide further evidence in the address to substantiate the alleged connection or the claimed use of housing levy funds

Government economic mismanagement

Turning to the national economy, Gachagua claimed that the government was borrowing an average of KSh1.4 trillion annually, pushing public debt to KSh13.02 trillion.

He said the figures translated into a debt burden of about KSh221,000 per Kenyan.

Gachagua also accused the administration of losing or misappropriating about KSh3 billion every day, describing the alleged losses as equivalent to approximately KSh2 million every minute

This government committed itself to protecting public assets… instead, it has accomplished a mission of driving Kenyan entrepreneurs out of business,

Rigathi gachagua

SHA, ICT procurement and e-Citizen claims

On the Social Health Authority (SHA), he claimed that a system procured at a cost of KSh104 billion was worth only KSh800 million, and alleged that SHA had become insolvent while owing hospitals KSh105 billion.

He further alleged that KSh45 billion had been transferred to the National Intelligence Service for an ICT system whose market value was about KSh2.5 billion.

On the e-Citizen platform, Gachagua cited what he described as a special audit showing that more than KSh11 billion in collections either lacked supporting documentation or had been channelled through non-designated accounts.

‘Hustlers’ bearing the brunt

Gachagua argued that ordinary Kenyans had borne the greatest burden of the government’s economic policies.

He claimed that petrol prices had increased by more than 34 per cent, while diesel prices had risen by nearly 60 per cent since 2022.

He further claimed that an average worker now loses as much as 50 per cent of monthly earnings through taxes and other levies.

The former Deputy President also attacked the Hustler Fund, once presented as a flagship programme for empowering low-income Kenyans. He described the initiative as a “lost cause” and a “fraud”, arguing that loans as low as KSh500 could not provide meaningful capital for sustainable businesses

Government’s relationship with the media and church

Gachagua also accused the government of undermining the media and restricting religious organisations.

He cited 24 reported cases of violence against journalists during the 2024 Gen Z protests and accused the administration of conducting what he termed a disinformation campaign against major media organisations.

On the church, he accused President Ruto of what he called a “complete betrayal” of the Church of Christ.

He pointed to the Religious Organizations Bill, 2024, which he claimed was intended to give the government greater control over religious activities, as well as alleged police attacks on clergy and places of worship.

‘A betrayal of the Hustler promise’

Gachagua said the government had failed to deliver on its promise to protect public assets and empower ordinary Kenyans.

“This government committed itself to protecting public assets… instead, it has accomplished a mission of driving Kenyan entrepreneurs out of business,” Gachagua stated. His remarks add to the growing political confrontation between the former deputy president and the Ruto administration, with Gachagua positioning himself as a leading critic of the government’s economic and governance record