Gachagua to Ruto: Stop being angry, Kenyans are angrier than you

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has lashed out at President William Ruto over his Wednesday address in which he claimed some political leaders are inciting youth to oust him from power.

During the commissioning of a police housing project in Nairobi’s Kilimani area on Wednesday, an angry Ruto said “enough is enough” to unnamed Kenyans who think “they can change this administration using violence and unlawful means before 2027.”

“Let them try," Ruto said, “This is a democratic nation and Kenyans will choose the nation's leadership through the ballot. We cannot choose leadership through violence. That is not going to happen in this country.”

Gachagua called a press conference at his Karen home shortly after the President’s speech, where he told Ruto to address the issues Kenyans have been raising through recent street protests, instead of “quavering and wailing in uncontrollable anger.”

“Mr Ruto, excessive anger is not a solution; I want to humbly advise you to stop being angry; that won’t help. You need to know what you need to know because you have not been listening to the people of Kenya,” Gachagua, who was impeached last October after falling out with Ruto, said.

“They are angrier than you are because you have overtaxed them; there is wanton corruption, extrajudicial killings, ethnic profiling, and other ills that bedevil your administration.”

Protests across Kenya have increased in recent months over growing public discontent against Ruto’s regime over the rising cost of living and a spate of crackdowns on government critics and street protests, many of which have resulted in deaths, injuries, and abductions.

Additionally, critics condemn police for brutality and the use of live ammunition on unarmed protesters during the youth-led demos.

Gachagua accused Ruto of “creating a narrative” that people want to overthrow him unconstitutionally so that his government can use the Terrorism Act to “profile communities and persecute leaders opposed to your administration.”

“No one wants to overthrow your government or get you out of power through unconstitutional means. We want to remove you from the State House through the ballot in 2027… Unless you decide to resign on your own volition,” he said.

“Please relax, we want you to serve your one term. Stop crying wolf, there is no leader planning a coup.”

He advised Ruto to abolish the controversial housing levy and create an enabling environment for job creation through “restoring the dignity of the pay slip and the capacity of the middle class.”

“Stop killing and profiling youth, listen to them; stop abductions and extra-judicial killings,” Gachagua told Ruto, whom he also accused of “organizing militia” to destroy people’s property during recent demos.