“I Nearly Slapped Ruto”: From Power Partners to Bitter Rivals

Kenyan politics was thrown into fresh turmoil after Rigathi Gachagua opened up about the tension that destroyed his partnership with President William Ruto. The former deputy president says their working relationship collapsed under constant conflict, mistrust, and sharp disagreements over how the country should be run.

Since losing his position in October 2024, Gachagua has been sharing his side of the story. He says he did not leave quietly because he felt he had been pushed out for refusing to compromise on issues affecting ordinary Kenyans. In his view, he was punished for speaking too loudly when policies began to hurt traders and communities in the Mt Kenya region.

While speaking to traders in Nairobi’s Nyamakima area, Gachagua described himself as a deputy who was never afraid to challenge authority. He claimed he confronted the president whenever he felt the government was moving in the wrong direction. These confrontations, he said, became more frequent and more intense as time went on.

One argument, he revealed, nearly turned physical. Gachagua said his anger boiled over during a heated exchange with Ruto, and he came close to striking him. He now believes that moment changed everything and triggered the political moves that later led to his impeachment.

After his exit, Kithure Kindiki was brought in to replace him. Gachagua has since accused Kindiki of lacking the courage to stand up to the president. He claims Kenya lost a deputy who could challenge power when he was removed.

Ruto has a different version of events. He has painted Gachagua as an unpredictable and disruptive figure who caused constant tension inside State House. According to the president, his former deputy spent too much time fighting with staff instead of helping lead the country.

In a strange twist, Ruto once admitted he had also been furious with his own boss, Uhuru Kenyatta, back in 2017. Today, Gachagua’s story suggests that Kenya’s top offices have long been driven by fierce clashes hidden from the public eye.