Gachagua Rekindles Clash with Duale Over Remarks on Uhuru Kenyatta
The political tension between Rigathi Gachagua and Aden Duale has once again come to the surface, following fresh remarks touching on former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
The Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader used a recent public appearance to strongly push back against comments made by the current Health Cabinet Secretary, warning him against what he described as disrespect towards the former Head of State.
Gachagua was speaking during a church service held at ACK St. Mark’s Church in Maragua, Murang’a County. In his address, he did not hold back, directly criticizing Duale over statements made on Saturday, April 18.
According to Gachagua, the remarks crossed a line and unfairly targeted Uhuru, who he insisted deserved respect for how he handled leadership and his deputy during his time in office.
The dispute began after Duale publicly accused Uhuru Kenyatta of interfering with President William Ruto’s government.
Duale claimed that the former president has been quietly working behind the scenes to influence political alignments and possibly shape alliances ahead of the 2027 General Election.
He went further to suggest that Uhuru was attempting to position himself as a key power broker in future political arrangements.
However, Gachagua quickly responded with a strong defense of Uhuru. He argued that comparing Uhuru’s leadership style to that of the current administration was misleading, especially when it came to how deputies are treated.
Drawing from his own political experience, including his impeachment in late 2024, Gachagua insisted that Uhuru never engaged in actions aimed at undermining his deputy.
He pointed out that during Uhuru’s presidency, there were no efforts to bribe Members of Parliament to support an impeachment motion against William Ruto when he served as Deputy President.
Gachagua emphasized that such actions were never witnessed under Uhuru’s leadership, suggesting a clear contrast with what he described as current political practices.
In addition, Gachagua stated that Uhuru did not use state machinery to intimidate or suppress his deputy.
He explained that there were no incidents where police or hired individuals were used to disrupt Ruto’s activities, neither were there cases of violence or harassment directed at him.
According to Gachagua, Uhuru allowed his deputy to fully carry out his duties without interference.
Taking a more personal tone, the former Deputy President claimed that his own experience has been very different. He alleged that since he left office, President Ruto has been behind a series of actions targeting him.
These, he claimed, include police raids and attacks by hired groups at his home, especially during weekends.
He also alleged that his children have been forcefully removed from business premises and that his wife has faced public humiliation and attacks.
Gachagua used these claims to underline what he described as a harsh and unfair treatment that goes beyond normal political disagreements.
He termed it as “brutal” and “inhuman,” insisting that such actions were never seen during his time serving under Uhuru Kenyatta.
He further highlighted the level of freedom that Ruto enjoyed when he was Deputy President. According to Gachagua, Ruto was able to travel freely across the country, including making frequent visits to the Mt. Kenya region without any form of restriction from State House.
This, he said, demonstrated Uhuru’s willingness to allow his deputy to engage with citizens and build political connections without interference.
On his part, Duale had earlier dismissed Uhuru’s continued involvement in political matters, advising him to step back and “go home and rest.” He accused the former president of betraying his successor and attempting to influence the country’s political direction from behind the scenes.
Duale also revived past claims that Uhuru had once tried to have Ruto impeached in 2019, though the attempt failed due to lack of sufficient support in Parliament.
Gachagua, however, rejected these claims, arguing that Duale was focusing on defending a leadership record that many Kenyans were already questioning.
He maintained that the current administration’s treatment of leaders, especially deputies, paints a worrying picture of intolerance and misuse of power.
Beyond the political exchanges, Gachagua shifted attention to what he described as a looming crisis in the health sector, particularly involving the Social Health Authority (SHA).
He warned that the institution is facing serious financial challenges and could collapse within the next five months if urgent action is not taken.
According to Gachagua, SHA is currently burdened with liabilities amounting to approximately Ksh98 billion. He described the situation as extremely critical, likening the institution to a “walking zombie” that is on the verge of total failure.
He further claimed that the authority had previously been in an intensive care situation last year and has not fully recovered.
In a more serious allegation, Gachagua claimed that a company based in Dubai, which he linked to Duale, is receiving monthly payments of about Ksh600 million from SHA.
He questioned how such payments could continue while the institution struggles with mounting unpaid debts, warning that this could lead to one of the biggest corporate financial losses in Kenya’s history if the situation is not addressed.
He concluded by stressing the urgency of the matter, stating that the potential collapse of SHA would have far-reaching consequences for millions of Kenyans who rely on the health system.
According to him, the issue goes beyond politics and requires immediate attention to prevent a national crisis.
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