Gachagua: Ruto is preparing to dump Kindiki
Gachagua said the alleged treatment of Kindiki mirrored what he experienced during his tenure as Ruto’s deputy, claiming the president would deliberately exclude him from prominent positions during public functions.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has claimed President William Ruto is deliberately humiliating and sidelining his successor, Kithure Kindiki, in a replay of what he described as his own political persecution before his removal from office.
Gachagua, the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader, said Ruto was using his emerging alliance with the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) to undermine Kindiki publicly, arguing that the Deputy President’s diminishing political influence was becoming increasingly evident.
Speaking at Kipeto in Kajiado West during celebrations for Ann Nashipae, a DCP aspirant for Kajiado Woman Representative yesterday, Gachagua said Kindiki’s treatment at a recent political retreat in Naivasha was a deliberate attempt by Ruto to embarrass him.
“Just recently in Naivasha, while Kindiki was sitting there, President William Ruto planned to humiliate him. He told Simba Arati to stand up, and Arati said, ‘This Deputy President seat belongs to us in ODM, and if Kindiki wants it, he should join ODM.’ Kindiki just sat there looking down,” Gachagua claimed.
The former Deputy President was referring to the Joint Broad-Based Alliance Parliamentary Group and Governors Retreat in Naivasha, where Ruto announced that Kenya Kwanza and ODM had agreed to formally work together as a coalition in the 2027 General Election.
Gachagua questioned why Ruto would allow Kindiki’s position to be publicly contested if he had already decided to replace him.
“President William Ruto, even if you have decided to fire this Soprano because he has no followers and has been rejected across Kenya for being a fake, why humiliate him? Why discuss his seat while he is sitting right there?” he asked.
He added: “Even if he is useless, he is still someone’s husband and the father of a child. Even if he has no supporters, at least he is a human being. Why humiliate him?”
Gachagua said the alleged treatment of Kindiki mirrored what he experienced during his tenure as Ruto’s deputy, claiming the president would deliberately exclude him from prominent positions during public functions.
“I saw President William Ruto doing to him exactly what he used to do to me. When walking on the red carpet, he walks with Oburu, while Kindiki is forced to walk on the grass,” he said.
“You know, when President William Ruto wants to get rid of you, he does not tell you to leave; he treats you this way. Kindiki has not understood that yet.”
He recalled confrontations involving Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi and economist David Ndii, whom he accused of attempting to enter VIP red-carpet areas while he was accompanying Ruto.
“He tried to do the same to me. There is also his ‘Standard 2’ boy, who tried to step onto the carpet while I was walking with President William Ruto, and I pushed him away,” Gachagua said, referring to Sudi.
“Then there was David Ndii in Naivasha. He tried to come onto the carpet while we were walking, and I pushed him out. That is the disrespect President William Ruto was showing me, the same disrespect he is showing Kindiki now.”
Gachagua claimed the apparent sidelining was a precursor to his eventual removal and said Ruto prefers to push out political allies rather than openly confront them.
“So, Kindiki, when President William Ruto wants to fire you, he does not tell you to go. He simply pushes you onto the grass, brings in this old man called Oburu and finds people to insult you,” he said.
“That is exactly what he did to me.”
He said he confronted Ruto when he was still an elected deputy president.
“But because I was an elected official, I told him, ‘President William Ruto, stop this nonsense and this disrespect,’” Gachagua said.
Despite his attacks on Kindiki’s political record, Gachagua said he sympathised with the Deputy President over the alleged public embarrassment.
“Even if he is not a good person, as a parent and a Christian, I felt sorry for him. You do not have to embarrass another man, even if you are through with him,” he said.
“Why embarrass him in front of others?”
Gachagua also mocked Ruto’s new partnership with ODM, claiming the party was politically weakened and suggesting that Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna had taken over the “original ODM” while he had inherited its support in the Maasai region.
His remarks came amid claims that ODM is seeking a 50 per cent share of government in return for supporting Ruto’s re-election bid.
According to sources cited in the account, ODM argued during discussions that since UDA had secured the presidential candidate, the Orange party should receive the running-mate position.
Ruto announced on August 10 that Kenya Kwanza and ODM would work together as a coalition in the 2027 election, develop a common manifesto and jointly seek the electorate’s mandate.
The president said the alliance would consolidate his administration’s gains while completing ongoing reforms and development projects.
