Ruto-Gachagua feud escalates, echoes past fallout with Uhuru
National
By
Ndung’u Gachane
| Jul 20, 2025
President William Ruto’s political fallout with his former Deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, has escalated into a personal feud, drawing parallels to Ruto’s bitter split with former President Uhuru Kenyatta, which also descended into personal and even family-level animosity.
Last week, President Ruto publicly lashed out at Gachagua over claims that the government had allegedly procured a State-sponsored militia to collaborate with police and other security agencies to maim, kill and destroy property—blaming the violence on the Kikuyu community and certain leaders perceived to be hostile to the Kenya Kwanza administration.
Using phrases such as “stupid” and “shameful,” the President rebuked Gachagua, challenging him to record a statement with the police and name the government officers he implied were behind the attacks and arson targeting businesses in the Mt Kenya region.
“I have heard someone claim that the government deployed goons to destroy property belonging to one ethnic community. If he is man enough, let him tell us who these people are. Let him record a statement with the police and name them. Making reckless and stupid remarks on social media is unacceptable,” Ruto said.
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He added: “If any leader has information suggesting that the burning of property in Meru, Murang’a, Kiambu and Kirinyaga was orchestrated by government officials, they should provide it so that those responsible can be charged. Otherwise, if you’re playing politics with the tears of people who’ve lost their livelihoods, shame on you.”
On July 9, Gachagua accused Ruto and his allies of hiring militia to carry out targeted economic sabotage in the Mt Kenya region.
“On the fateful day, these State-sponsored militia, acting on orders and with the support of police, were dropped in various areas, especially in Mt Kenya and other regions seen as unfriendly to the government,” Gachagua claimed. “They were strategically dropped past midnight, with police setting up roadblocks. Others were deployed early in the morning.”
At the time of Ruto’s response, Gachagua was on an official visit to the United States. He took to social media to hit back, dismissing Ruto’s rebuttal and directly linking him to “shoot-to-kill” orders and sponsoring the violence.
“How do we report State-sponsored militia to the same police who supervised them?” Gachagua posted. “You’re asking us to name those responsible? I already named you as the person behind the violence unleashed on the community that made you President.”
He added: “You even instructed police to shoot innocent Kenyans in the legs. You didn’t send condolences to the dead. You lack empathy. We shall not report you to the Kenyan police, but to the International Criminal Court, a place you are already familiar with.”
The growing rift mirrors the toxic relationship between Ruto and Uhuru. At one point in 2022, Ruto accused Uhuru of plotting harm against his children, while Uhuru accused Ruto of abdicating his responsibilities, engaging in propaganda and participating in grand corruption.
When Ruto made claims in August 2022 about a plot to harm his family, Uhuru retorted angrily, saying he believed in God and would never engage in such acts.
“Those telling me not to kill their children are simply imagining what they themselves would do in my position. They are led by the devil. I am led by God,” Uhuru said.
Political analysts warn the Ruto-Gachagua rift may derail the government’s development agenda. “Despite deep differences, Uhuru never impeachedRuto. He had the numbers, working with Raila, they passed the BBI bill in Parliament,” said policy researcher and political analyst Dr Kamau Wairuri.