The embattled former Deputy President, Rigathi Gachagua, has disclosed the reasons behind his fallout with President William Ruto, which ultimately led to his ouster as Deputy President a few months ago.
Gachagua spoke when he attended a Sunday service at AIPCA Kangari, Kigumo in Murang’a County. According to him, the rift began when he told the President that the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) was unpopular among the people and that citizens did not support it. He also claimed that their differences widened further when he criticized the Adani deal involving the embattled Gautam Adani, describing it as shady and against the interests of Kenyans. Gachagua stated that this honesty angered the President, who retaliated by sidelining him.
“The reason for my fallout with President Ruto is that I told him the truth. I informed him that the SHIF and SHA were not the way to go and that Kenyans were not in favor of them. Regarding the Adani deal, I told him it was shady and that Kenyans were not willing to auction their country for 30 years without value for their money. I was the only one who dared to tell the President the truth, and that is why I was removed. All the CSs are afraid of him; they simply applaud whatever he says,” he remarked.
Gachagua further added that it took the intervention of the U.S. government for President Ruto to cancel the Adani deal and to listen to the voice of the Kenyan people.
He also emphasized the importance of churches speaking the truth and standing with the people, commending the Catholic Church for calling out the impunity perpetrated by Ruto’s government.