Ichung’wah hits back at Gachagua, allege Sh300million CRBC extortion bid during Ruto tenure

National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah has accused former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua of attempting to extort Sh300 million from Chinese construction giant China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) while serving as President William Ruto’s deputy, escalating an increasingly bitter political war between the former allies.

Ichung’wah made the explosive allegation this afternoon within Parliament precincts as he led a broad-based parliamentary response to Gachagua’s damning assessment of the Kenya Kwanza administration, in which the former deputy president described Ruto’s first four years in office as “four wasted years” characterised by broken promises, economic distress, corruption and alleged State capture.

Speaking at Parliament, Ichung’wah claimed Gachagua had sought Sh300 million from CRBC over alleged wrongdoing dating back to the administration of retired President Uhuru Kenyatta.

“Rigathi’s bitterness with China Road and Bridge Corporation exposes his insatiable greed. While calling others corrupt, Rigathi is the high priest of corruption. He attempted to extort Sh300 million from CRBC when he was Deputy President,” Ichung’wah alleged.

The Majority Leader claimed the Chinese state-owned company rejected the demand, insisting that its contracts were governed by Kenyan law and subject to scrutiny by public institutions, including the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA).

Ichung’wah did not provide evidence publicly to substantiate the alleged demand, while Gachagua has not, in the material presented, responded to the accusation.

The allegation formed the centrepiece of Ichung’wah’s counterattack against Gachagua  shortley after the ex-DP released a 39-page political assessment of Ruto’s presidency, accusing the administration of failing Kenyans and abandoning the promises that propelled Kenya Kwanza to power in 2022.

Gachagua, now leader of the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), accused Ruto of concentrating power, undermining independent constitutional institutions, presiding over corruption and using State resources to enrich himself.

He alleged that Ruto had become a US dollar billionaire since assuming office through the alleged looting of public coffers, and claimed the government was borrowing about Sh3.5 billion daily while losing about Sh3 billion a day to corruption.

Gachagua also attacked the Affordable Housing Programme, Hustler Fund and Social Health Authority, arguing that the flagship initiatives had failed to deliver the transformation promised to Kenyans.

His assessment was particularly damaging because Gachagua served as Ruto’s deputy for two years before his impeachment and removal from office in October 2024.

It was this history that Ichung’wah seized upon, challenging Gachagua to account for his own record before passing judgment on the administration he once defended.

“He is attempting to take stock of the four years of the Ruto administration, an administration that he served for a record two years of those four years,” Ichung’wah said.

“He sat in Cabinet. He sat in National Security Council meetings, and he defended this government, its policies and its record.”

The Majority Leader asked what transformative programme, economic reform or national institution Gachagua left behind during his tenure.

“What did Gachagua do in the two years that he served this country as the Deputy President?” Ichung’wah asked, challenging him to identify his “great idea for Kenya” then and now.

Ichung’wah also accused Gachagua of hypocrisy over the Affordable Housing Programme, arguing that the former deputy president had been part of the Kenya Kwanza team that developed and campaigned on the policy ahead of the 2022 election.

He questioned why Gachagua was now attacking a programme he had previously helped sell to voters.

“This man and his cabal will never be happy seeing a boda-boda rider or a mama mboga living a dignified livelihood in a two-bedroom apartment courtesy of the Affordable Housing Programme,” he said.

The MP defended the government’s record, citing subsidised fertiliser and increased food production as evidence of progress in agriculture.

He also pointed to the reported decline in maize flour prices, implementation of SHA and expansion of primary healthcare through Community Health Promoters.

He cited the Hustler Fund, entrepreneurship programmes, enterprise support and labour mobility agreements as initiatives intended to create opportunities for young people and small businesses.

But the political attack went beyond policy differences.

Ichung’wah described Gachagua as “heartless, reckless, careless and malicious”, accused him of lacking integrity and branded him a “tribal tyrant” who had failed to articulate a national vision.

He also alleged that Gachagua had demanded Sh10 billion to “fix Mount Kenya politics”, an accusation that further deepened the personal and political dimensions of the confrontation.

Ichung’wah accused Gachagua and his allies of making unsubstantiated claims against State institutions and security agencies for political purposes, insisting that the former deputy president’s conduct was among the reasons he was impeached.

The escalating war reflects the dramatic collapse of the Ruto-Gachagua alliance that propelled Kenya Kwanza to power in 2022.

Once political partners, the two leaders fell out spectacularly, culminating in Gachagua’s impeachment in October 2024.

Since then, Gachagua has positioned himself as one of Ruto’s most vocal critics and is seeking to consolidate political support in the Mount Kenya region ahead of the 2027 General Election.