Former Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki says the political break-up between President William Ruto and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua did not come as a surprise to her, having questioned the strength of their partnership from the moment they joined forces.
Kariuki said she had followed the relationship between the two leaders closely after Gachagua was selected as Ruto’s running mate ahead of the 2022 General Election. She said she was convinced even then that the alliance would not remain intact for long.
“When it was decided that Rigathi Gachagua was the running mate, we were still monitoring, and I knew he wouldn’t end up with Ruto. I knew that one person could use the other, and that is exactly what he did. In my heart, I knew they wouldn’t finish,” Kariuki said.
The former Cabinet Secretary was speaking during an interview with Kameme TV on Thursday, September 3, 2026, where she looked back at the events that followed the 2022 election and the eventual collapse of the relationship.
According to Kariuki, Gachagua’s removal from office in 2024 made her more interested in hearing what the former deputy president had to say about the political developments within the Kenya Kwanza administration.
“When he was impeached, I wanted to listen to Rigathi Gachagua,” she said.
Kariuki said she also took time to assess Ruto’s leadership and those around him, which further convinced her that the growing differences could have wider political effects.
“I looked back and knew what Ruto looked like and the kind of people that surround him. I knew there was a problem that could bring divisions in the mountain,” Kariuki said.
Gachagua became Ruto’s deputy after the two won the 2022 presidential election, but their working relationship later deteriorated, eventually leading to Gachagua’s impeachment in 2024.
His exit from office marked a major shift in the political relationship between the two leaders and opened a new chapter in Mount Kenya politics.
Since the fallout, Gachagua has stepped up his criticism of the Ruto administration and become a key figure in political discussions over the direction of the Mount Kenya region.
Kariuki’s remarks come as the former deputy president’s political differences with Ruto continue to shape debate around alliances and the region’s political future.