Gachagua lashes out at Ruto over controversial sale of public assets
The Former Deputy President and Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua has strongly criticised the President William Ruto’s led Kenya Kwanza administration for what he described as the irresponsible sale of vital government assets.
Speaking during a church service at Dominion City Church in Kasarani Constituency, Nairobi County, the former Deputy President condemned the Ruto administration for selling Safaricom shares, asserting that the government has incurred losses amounting to billions through what he termed a corruption-led sale.
“The country is being sold every day. Safaricom has been one of the greatest revenue generators for our country, about Sh18billion to Sh20billion every year. Sasa share moja imeuzwa Sh34, whereas the real value is Sh70 to Sh80, so the country is losing around Sh250billion,” he said
Gachagua also criticised President Ruto for divesting shares in Safaricom without involving the public, arguing that such actions contravene the Public Procurement and Disposal Act.
“Sasa hii Safaricom inauzwa without public participation,” he stated.
To illustrate what he termed poor economic reasoning, Gachagua used a metaphor involving a family’s only productive cow.
“When we look at it from a different perspective, it’s like you have a high-yielding cow in your home, hio ngombe ndio inatoa maziwa watoto wanakunywa, we unakunyea na ingine inauzwa. Sasa wewe unauza hio ngombe na hauna ingine ati ununue chakula ya siku hio, sasa ukikula hio chakula, hauna ngombe ya kukamua,” Gachagua said.
Gachagua listed several state corporations that he said have already been sold off or lined up for disposal, framing the moment as a national crisis requiring urgent attention.
“We are in a place in our country where Ruto is selling everything that is working. Kenya Pipeline ameuza, Kenya Port ameuza, airport ameuza na sasa Safaricom ameuza,” he said
He emphasieed that the country has lost billions in the process.
The former DP further alleged that the Ruto government is effectively selling off everything, including the cancellation of the Rironi-Mau Summit highway contract, which he claimed was done to facilitate corruption.
He pointed out that Kenyans continue to bear the heavy burden of debt incurred through these questionable dealings.
On the issue of opposition unity, Gachagua assured Kenyans that the opposition remains united despite attempts by the government to woo Kalonzo Musyoka into its fold.
He dismissed such efforts as futile, emphasizing that there is no rift between himself and Musyoka.
He stated that the Wiper Party and DCP are working together, and called on the ODM party to join the opposition coalition as they prepare to take over government in 2027.
Gachagua was accompanied by Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka, who echoed similar sentiments, calling for sobriety and responsible governance from the current administration.
