President William Ruto on Thursday fired at his former deputy Rigathi Gachagua saying he is the last person to lecture people on governance.
The head of state said Gachagua who was hounded out of office because of ‘incompetence, tribalism and corruption’ is least qualified to lecture anyone on how to run the government.
Speaking when he launched the Alupe dam project in Busia county, Ruto said the brand of politics employed by the former Mathira MP had no place in the modern Kenya.
“Those corrupt, incompetent, thieves and tribal leaders have no place in this country and that is why you saw those who tried that route were shown the door,” Ruto said.
“They are now trying to lecture us from the bush, you who was removed because of incompetence, corruption and negative personal things you want to lecture us on which way Kenya should go?”
This is the third time the President is aiming at his former deputy who has also sustained attacks of the broad-based government.
Earlier, Gachagua faulted Ruto’s ongoing development tour of Western Kenya, claiming it has shifted focus from key regional issues to attack him.
Speaking during a TikTok Live session, Gachagua expressed concern that instead of addressing the region’s critical development challenges, the President and his team are discussing him.
“A whole President and his team go to a region, and instead of discussing roads, water, or struggling sugar factories, they are busy discussing one person—me,” Gachagua said.
He urged the government to focus on tangible issues such as reviving sugar factories, improving road infrastructure, providing clean water and addressing healthcare shortages.
Ruto has fired at critics of the Sh150 million sugarcane farmers bonus saying it is time all farmers are treated equally.
The head of state in an apparent response to Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka wondered why he has been quite when the same is extended to coffee and tea farmers.
He vowed to ensure all farmers are given same treatment to motivate them into producing more.
Kalonzo on Wednesday questioned the source of the millions the President was splashing to the cane farmers on Monday when he visited Mumias.
“This Sh150 million where are you getting this money from? It is not in our budget,” the former Vice President said on Wednesday after chairing Wiper National Executive Council at the party headquarters.
Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba also raised concerns about Ruto’s sugar bonus programme to the Western region.
The lawmaker allied Gachagua took to social media to question whether the sugar bonus was truly a government initiative.
“Hi guys, I don’t know much about sugar farming, but I saw a bonus launch for Mumias sugar farmers. Was this a government initiative? Will all other sugar companies in Western Kenya receive it, and when? I don’t recall any bonus funds being passed in parliamentary budgets,” she posted on X.
But Ruto wondered why some leaders only have problems when cane farmers are paid bonuses.
“I am shocked that some leaders are questioning why the government has bailed out Mumias Sugar Company and now pay farmers bonuses, does it mean cane farmers are not Kenyans?” Ruto posed.
“Coffee and tea farmers are paid bonuses but when it is sugar cane farmers then they start asking questions.”
Tea and coffee are dominant cash crops in Rift Valley and Central Kenya while Western and parts of Coast are known for cane farming.
On the source of funds, the President noted the Sh150 million will be sourced from the same kitty used to pay coffee and tea farmers.
“Some of the leaders are even asking me where I will get money for the bonuses, let me tell them that that where tea and coffee farmers are getting their money is where sugar cane farmers will be paid from,” he said.
He said all state millers, including Sony, Trans Nzoia, Chemelil and Muhoroni, will soon start paying bonuses.
