DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua has turned President William Ruto’s latest criticism of retired President Uhuru Kenyatta into a fresh challenge, telling the Head of State to stop looking back and instead prepare to face his political rivals ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Speaking on Friday, August 14, in Naivasha, Nakuru County, the former Deputy President accused Ruto of deliberately bringing Uhuru into the political debate to take Kenyans’ attention away from concerns about the performance of his administration.
Gachagua, who leads the DCP party, said the President’s remarks were aimed at changing the subject from the government’s record and getting Kenyans to focus on defending or attacking Uhuru.
“William Ruto, in his usual style, tried to divert the attention of Kenyans by attacking President Uhuru Kenyatta so that Kenyans can abandon that debate and start defending Uhuru and castigating him,” Gachagua stated.
He maintained that the move would not stop Kenyans from questioning the government about what it has achieved during Ruto’s four years in office.
“We want to tell you, you cannot divert the attention of Kenyans from the discussion on your performance for four years, and that debate must go on,” he stated.
Gachagua also dismissed the focus on Uhuru, saying the former President is retired and should not be treated as Ruto’s direct opponent in the next election.
“Leave President Uhuru Kenyatta alone; he is retired and face your competitor Rigathi Gachagua. That is the man you must face,” Gachagua added.
His remarks followed comments by Ruto on Wednesday in which the President accused Uhuru of backing politicians who are positioning themselves to challenge him in 2027.
Ruto claimed his predecessor was unhappy with his achievements and contrasted his administration’s record with Uhuru’s 10-year tenure.
The President specifically questioned Uhuru’s record on Affordable Housing, Universal Healthcare Coverage and Education, while accusing him of sponsoring his “protegees” to compete against his administration.
“When you look at their sponsor, didn't he fail to deliver on Affordable Housing, Universal Healthcare Coverage, and Education? Now he has gone to sponsor his protegees to come and compete with me.
“I will defeat them early in the morning because they have no plan, agenda, policies, or vision,” Ruto stated.
Ruto also said he would not be intimidated by the “Wantam” political campaign and challenged those seeking to challenge him to present their plans to Kenyans.
The President urged politicians he linked to Uhuru to prepare for a contest based on what they would offer the country, setting the stage for an increasingly heated political battle ahead of the 2027 election.