Rigathi Gachagua, the former Deputy President, has described President William Ruto’s Personal Assistant, Farouk Kibet, as a “co-president.”
This statement comes amid growing concerns and debates about the influence Farouk has within the government.
Speaking during an interview with KTN on Monday, April 7, Gachagua openly addressed what many insiders have whispered about – Farouk’s powerful and seemingly unchecked role in President Ruto’s administration.
Gachagua claimed that Farouk doesn’t just serve as a personal aide to the President, but instead plays a major role in government operations.
According to him, President Ruto frequently uses Farouk to pass official instructions to top government officials.
“Everyone reports to him,” Gachagua said, painting a picture of a behind-the-scenes figure who operates with presidential authority.
This revelation came just days after President Ruto criticized Gachagua during a public speech, accusing him of constantly picking unnecessary fights with his juniors in government.
Ruto mentioned blogger Dennis Itumbi, MP Ndindi Nyoro, and Farouk Kibet as some of the people Gachagua allegedly clashed with.
“He kept complaining and accusing even junior officials like Itumbi and Farouk of undermining him. I told him to stop the petty fights and help us deliver to the people,” Ruto said.
However, Gachagua rejected the President’s claims, saying that his disagreement with Farouk wasn’t petty.
According to him, the tension began when Farouk tried to take over the running of the Deputy President’s office, known as Harambee Annex.
“He says I was fighting Farouk. But Farouk Kibet is not just a small assistant – he is practically a co-president. He is the one managing the government,” Gachagua insisted.
He further claimed that even senior government officials, including the Inspector General of Police, Cabinet Ministers, and the Head of Public Service, were answerable to Farouk.
“Farouk sends instructions to Cabinet Secretaries on behalf of Ruto. They fear him. They obey him like he’s the President himself,” he added.
Gachagua said that Farouk even wanted to control his meetings and appointments as Deputy President.
At first, he said, he allowed it, but later discovered what he called “shady deals” happening behind the scenes. That’s when he decided to push back.
“I couldn’t let the President’s assistant start giving me orders,” Gachagua said. He explained that he took the matter directly to President Ruto, telling him that until corruption in the Deputy President’s office was dealt with, he would not allow Farouk to manage his schedule.
“I reminded him that I was elected, and I’m not taking instructions from a PA. I will not let corruption be associated with my office,” he added firmly.
Gachagua said when he tried to confront Farouk about the issue, Farouk simply dismissed him and refused to listen.
This, he claimed, is part of the wider problem – a system where even the Deputy President has to go through Farouk to speak to the President.
Supporting Gachagua’s claims, Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro once stated that even Gachagua needed Farouk’s approval to access the President.
Gachagua also recalled other instances that, according to him, exposed how much control Farouk had in State House operations, although he did not go into the full details during the interview.
So far, President Ruto has strongly denied any claims of corruption in his office, and neither he nor Farouk Kibet has responded directly to Gachagua’s new allegations.
Farouk Kibet is not new to Ruto’s inner circle. He has been his personal assistant and trusted ally for decades, with their close relationship dating back to 1997 when Ruto first ran for the Eldoret North parliamentary seat. Since then, Farouk has remained a powerful figure behind the scenes.
The controversy has added to growing tensions between Gachagua and Ruto, with Gachagua now openly challenging how power is being shared and exercised within the presidency.
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