Former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua during a press interview at the home of former Kakamega senator Cleophas Malala in Makunga, Navakholo in Kakamega County on December 29, 2024.
Former Deputy President (DP) Rigathi Gachagua has challenged his ex-boss William Ruto to stop 'unnecessary Cabinet reshuffles' aimed at pleasing his rivals in the 2022 presidential elections and instead deliver on the promises he made to Kenyans.
Mr Gachagua on Sunday alluded to the fact that the Head of State was only keen on doing things to accommodate his former rivals, amid growing criticism of the Kenya Kwanza administration by various sections of the public.
The former DP asked Dr Ruto to deal with corruption, unemployment, high cost of living, and human rights violations, including widespread arrests and abductions of those opposed to his leadership style, instead of concentrating on changing the ministry holders to pacify his ‘newfound friends’.
Mr Gachagua said what the public was interested in was the development and not positions being dished to their kinsmen.
“The people of the mountain, western or any other parts of the country do not need positions. The appointments are meaningless since they only benefit individuals and their families. What Kenyans want are good roads, electricity and water connectivity, money to educate their children and reduced prices of essential commodities,” he said.
Whereas President Ruto said he had decided to work with his former rivals to promote national unity and build bridges in his government, Mr Gachagua criticised him for lacking ideas on how to run the government.
This comes after President Ruto incorporated opposition figures allied to former President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga in his Cabinet.
Three Cabinet reshuffles
The President has made three Cabinet reshuffles since assuming office in 2022, bringing into his leadership allies of Mr Odinga from Nyanza, Western and Coast regions before he named three allies of Mr Kenyatta in the latest cabinet changes.
Mr Gachagua said no amount of inclusion of the people from Central Kenya will change the perception of the people from the Mountain.
“Mt Kenya will vote in one basket to the last man. Our people learnt a bitter lesson since 1997 and decided to remain united,” he added.
Dr Ruto has brought in his administration Mr Mutahi Kagwe, who served as the Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) during Mr Kenyatta’s tenure, former Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui and former Governor William Kabogo.
And on Saturday, he expanded the mandate of three Cabinet Secretaries Musalia Mudavadi, Aden Duale and Salim Mvurya by assigning them more dockets in a move to solidify his grip on power. Mr Mudavadi, the Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs CS was assigned the mandate to handle the Information, Communication and Technology and Digital Economy.
Mr Duale, who is in charge of the Environment, was assigned to handle the Agriculture Ministry while Mvurya, who was transferred to the Sports docket, now handles the Trade Ministry as the Cabinet.
Speaking in Mumias when he toured the home of former UDA Secretary General Cleophas Malala, Mr Gachagua said Kenyans are not interested in the sharing of positions by leaders but development.
Should Parliament approve the appointment of the three into the Cabinet, Central region will have seven out of the 20 Cabinet slots, plus the deputy president.
On Sunday, he joined DAP-K leader Eugene Wamalwa and Mr Malala in challenging President Ruto to walk his talk on abductions.
They questioned why time was running out since the President confirmed the disturbing trend of rampant abductions in his government and declared an end to the vice.
“We are giving the President 72 hours to ensure all Kenyans who are believed to have been abducted by security agents are released, to reunite with their families to celebrate the New Year, failure to which we will mobilise all Kenyans to come out on January 2, 2025, for a national mass protest against Ruto’s administration,” said Mr Malala.
He said the abduction cases were sparking outrage across the country that will explode against Ruto’s regime.
The latest incidents of abductions include four cases of cartoonist Gideon Kibet, his brother Rony Kiplangat, Bernard Kavuli, Peter Muteti and Billy Mwangi. The incidents are just the tip of the iceberg as the incidents have been witnessed since the wake of the anti-government protests since June, 2024.
Some young people have voiced opposition to the broad-based government and have been sharing the hashtag #RutoMustGo.
Mr Gachagua challenged young Kenyans to register for identification cards and come out in large numbers to vote against the Kenyan Kwanza government which he described as oppressive and tyrannical.
Top political leaders
He said the coming together of top political leaders in the country was making the majority of Kenyans who didn’t like the other leaders angrier and encouraging more protests against Ruto's government.
"What Ruto is doing is an attempt to assemble political dynasties together to cover each other's wrongdoings and gang against the people of Kenya who are subjected to abject suffering," he added.
Mr Gachagua said President Ruto was flouting the constitutional requirement by dishing Cabinet slots without considering diversity, inclusivity and equity as mandated by the constitution.
“Such actions are contravening the public trust and this is what Kenyans will use against him in 2027. Ruto has grossly violated the constitution by openly and blatantly promoting regional ethnic exclusivity and gender discrimination,” he pointed out.
Dr Ruto and Gachagua were elected on a joint ticket through a partnership that helped Ruto win the presidency by marshalling support from Mount Kenya, who are said to have the largest voting bloc in Kenya.
