Gachagua Tells Ruto to Step Down or Face Voters in 2027
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has openly told President William Ruto to either step down from office or prepare to be voted out in the next general election.
Gachagua made the strong remarks during an interview on NTV on Friday evening, responding to earlier comments made by the President.
During his speech at the World MSME Day event held in Nairobi, President Ruto had reacted to ongoing protests and growing calls for his resignation.
He said he would only consider stepping down if those demanding his exit presented a solid and workable plan for the country’s future.
“If people are saying Ruto must go, then they should explain how I’m supposed to leave. What exactly do they mean by ‘Ruto must go’? Let them come up with a better plan for the country and persuade the people of Kenya,” the President said on Friday.
In response, Gachagua did not hold back. He told Ruto that the decision to step aside was not for him to deflect or shift to others but a personal responsibility based on the will of the people. He boldly outlined two options for the President.
“If the people of Kenya have made it clear that it’s time for you to leave, then you must respect their voice. You have only two choices—resign honorably and leave with dignity or stay on and wait for Kenyans to send you home through the ballot in 2027,” Gachagua stated.
Speaking about the protests that occurred on Wednesday, June 25, Gachagua denied accusations that he had a hand in organizing or funding the demonstrations. He instead claimed that the violent unrest had been sponsored by the state itself.
He dismissed the narrative that the demonstrations were part of a plan to remove Ruto from power, calling such claims misleading and baseless.
“There is no one trying to overthrow President William Ruto. All these stories about a planned coup are just false narratives being pushed by some of his loyalists who want to protect him from facing the real truth. The truth is, Kenyans are tired and they are demanding serious reforms,” said the former Deputy President.
Gachagua also condemned the excessive use of force by police officers during the demonstrations. He accused the government of failing to protect its citizens and claimed that criminal gangs were being used by those in power for political purposes.
He criticized the brutality that protestors faced at the hands of law enforcement and questioned the intentions of those in leadership who ignored the people’s suffering.
“The police were not just brutal; they were part of the violence. The government has failed in its duty to protect the people. In fact, it seems they are using criminals to intimidate and suppress the citizens,” Gachagua added.
As the leader of the Democratic Consciousness Party (DCP), Gachagua also issued a stern warning to the Kenya Kwanza administration, pointing out the rising anger among Kenyans due to the government’s failure in key sectors such as healthcare.
He expressed deep concern that the country’s leadership is not paying attention to the voices of ordinary citizens, and blamed the National Intelligence Service (NIS) for failing to provide accurate reports to the President about the true mood of the nation.
“The NIS did not read the situation on the ground properly. They failed in their job and misinformed the President. Because of that, lives were lost during the protests. Kenyans are not just angry—they are frustrated. Leaders must start listening to them seriously,” Gachagua warned.
His remarks reflect a growing divide within the political class and add more pressure on the Ruto administration to respond to the public’s growing dissatisfaction with the current leadership.
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