'Incompetent, corrupt and tribal': President Ruto fires at Gachagua

President William Ruto has hit out at impeached Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, accusing him of attempting to divide Kenyans along ethnic lines, adding that his efforts will not bear fruit. 

Since leaving office, Gachagua has been a thorn in Ruto's side, persistently criticizing the Kenya Kwanza government while also launching a charm offensive in the Mt. Kenya region ahead of the 2027 polls, in an effort to seemingly undermine the head of state’s influence and consolidating his own political base ahead of the next elections.

Speaking in Luanda, Vihiga County, on Wednesday, President Ruto pointed out that some of his major political adversaries had served under him in the past but were removed from office due to incompetence, a veiled reference that appeared to be directed at Gachagua.

“Kuna watu wengine wanataka kutuletea siasa ya ukabila, chuki na ya kutenganisha wakenya, mimi nataka niwaulize hawa watu watafte sera…wananchi hawa hawawezi kununua ukabila my friend; hawawezi kununua chuki,” said President Ruto.

“Kuna wengine ambao tuliwapatia kazi..but because of incompetence…kwa sababu haelewi chochote…kwa sababu ni watu wa wizi, watu ambao ni matapeli, watu amabao ni wafisadi….watu ambao wako na chuki wanagawanya watu, hiyo biashara yao ilizama na watazama na kuzama.”

Further, President Ruto emphasized that Kenya is a nation built on unity and shared values and that those who seek to exploit ethnic divisions for personal gain will ultimately fail.

“Kenya haina nafasi ya ufisadi na watu ambao hawajui kufanya kazi na watu wa kugawanya watu na ukabila,” said Ruto.

“We have no time for tribalists and people who are incompetent and those who want to divide our nation on ethnic and personal lies. We are united as a people and Kenya is going to march forward as one united, indivisible country that we will all be proud to call home.”

Ruto’s remarks come just two days after Prime Cabinet Secretary (CS) Musalia Mudavadi fired shots at Gachagua for his incessant trolls against the government.

Speaking at a roadside rally in Kakamega County on Monday, Mudavadi urged Gachagua to tone down his fury against the state and instead focus on furthering his professional interests.

He further noted that Kenyans should embrace Kenya Kwanza's development agenda and desist from endorsing divisive politics from individuals who stand no chance of holding elective positions.

"If somebody was mourning then he has finished the mourning. The mourning period is over. Kenya must move on. It is not there to listen to you every other day. We must develop the country and that is where President Ruto is taking us," Mudavadi said then.

"The law says that if you have been impeached you cannot have public office even a nyumba kumi (village elder)."