NAIROBI, Kenya — The leader of the Democracy for the Citizen Party (DCP), Rigathi Gachagua, has sharply criticised William Ruto, urging the President to stay out of his family matters amid an escalating political feud.
Gachagua’s remarks come in response to a public appeal by the family of his late brother, former Nyeri Governor Nderitu Gachagua. Led by his widow, Margaret Nyokabi Nderitu, the family has called on President Ruto to initiate an independent investigation into alleged forgery of the deceased’s will and suspected unlawful interference in the administration of his estate.
The dispute has intensified following recent comments by President Ruto, who accused Gachagua of hypocrisy, alleging that the former deputy president had called him a thief while facing accusations of wrongdoing within his own family.
Speaking during a political tour in Kirinyaga County, Gachagua issued a strongly worded warning to the head of state, insisting that he should focus on national governance rather than private family disputes.
“Amesahau mambo ya Kenya anaingilia mambo ya familia ya Gachagua. Alijaribu kuingilia mambo ya mlima, nikamkataza. Ameshindwa kugawanya mlima, anafikiria atagawanya familia ya Gachagua? Wewe William Ruto, ukona familia yenu ya Kalenjin, kuenda ongea mambo ya familia yenu, usiingilie mambo ya familia yangu hapa milimani,” Gachagua stated.
The remarks underscore the deepening political fallout between the two leaders, once allies during the 2022 general election, but now increasingly at odds amid shifting political alignments and emerging opposition formations.
Gachagua also used the tour to mobilise support for his DCP party, calling on leaders still aligned with the current administration to defect immediately or risk exclusion from the party’s nomination processes.
“I’ve heard those still in Ruto’s administration plan to join DCP later, after benefiting from the current government, only to come and confuse you. Will you allow them?,” Gachagua asked, as residents responded with chants of “one term.”
He maintained that DCP nominations would be conducted transparently but warned that late entrants, particularly those perceived to have benefited from the current administration, would not be accommodated.
During his tour of key constituencies including Mwea, Kirinyaga Central, and Gichugu, Gachagua urged voters to reject leaders associated with the ruling administration in the next general election, framing the contest as a decisive moment for political change.
“When William Ruto visits, hear what he says, take his money, but don’t let other leaders accompanying him speak because they are traitors,” Gachagua said, warning residents to be cautious of politicians with hidden agendas.
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The public fallout reflects broader realignments within Kenya’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 general election.
Gachagua’s push to consolidate influence in the Mt. Kenya region, often referred to as a critical voting bloc, signals an attempt to reposition himself as a central opposition figure.
Meanwhile, the involvement of the late Nderitu Gachagua’s family introduces a sensitive legal and personal dimension to the dispute, potentially raising questions about estate governance, political interference, and the boundaries between public office and private matters.
The presidency has not formally responded to the family’s request for an independent probe, but the issue is likely to intensify both legal scrutiny and political rhetoric in the coming months.
