Rigathi Gachagua, the former Deputy President and current leader of the Democracy for Citizens’ Party (DCP) and co-leader of the United Opposition, has officially issued a high-stakes ultimatum demanding that President William Ruto’s administration take immediate action to slash skyrocketing fuel prices within seven days. Alleging extensive “state capture” and massive corruption within the energy sector, Gachagua has threatened to lead a prolonged, countrywide mass action on June 25, 2026, if the government fails to address his demands.
Core Demands for Fuel Price ReductionGachagua laid out structural interventions that the government must implement to bring down the cost of living:Remove Fuel VAT Entirely: Drop the Value Added Tax (VAT) on fuel to 0%.Abolish the G2G Deal: Dismantle the Government-to-Government petroleum framework, calling it a “fraud” that shields wealthy oil marketers instead of protecting citizens.Eliminate Key Levies: Reverse the road maintenance levy increase and scrap the KSh 5 trillion National Infrastructure Fund.Address Fuel Quality: Eliminate what he characterizes as substandard, high-sulfur petroleum imports currently on the market before they destroy vehicle engines.
Allegations of State Capture and Excess Profit MarginsSpeaking from London during his UK tour, Gachagua dismissed explanations attributing the spikes to international factors or shipping delays around the Strait of Hormuz. He claimed that neighboring countries like Uganda and Rwanda utilize the same Kenyan transit routes yet manage to enjoy significantly lower retail costs at the pump. Gachagua explicitly accused President Ruto and private proxies, specifically Gulf Energy, of pocketing up to KSh 5 per liter under the current framework to line their own pockets and finance major corporate asset buyouts.
Impending Mass ProtestsWhile a transport sector strike was briefly suspended for a week to allow for dialogue with government representatives, Gachagua completely rejected the suspension. He characterized the truce as a deceptive decoy designed to kill public momentum. The United Opposition stated that their upcoming mass actions will merge with upcoming regional Gen Z commemoration events to maximize impact and ensure sustained civic disruption until fuel prices drop permanently.
