Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua has offered a deeply personal account of the rocky relationship he shared with President William Ruto during their time at the helm of Kenya's leadership.

In an interview aired on Obinna TV on Friday, May 16, Gachagua pulled back the curtain on what he described as a very rough year in office, a year marked by mounting disagreements, policy clashes, and a steady erosion of trust between the two former allies.

Gachagua painted a picture of a vice presidency riddled with frustration and a growing sense of alienation.

According to him, the presidency he once helped campaign for turned into a space where honesty was not just unwelcome, but punishable.

"He is also not good because I was there telling him the truth. I told him the truth, and because he doesn't want the truth, he got rid of me. He doesn't want the truth. I told him the finance bill cannot work. I said stop abduction, Mr. President. Stop killing young people," Gachagua stated.

Gachagua revealed that tensions with the president began intensifying around October 2022 and that by the time 2023 unfolded, the relationship had reached a breaking point.

"We struggled almost a year. It was very rough for that one year. The whole of 2023 from October. I couldn't stand what was going on, and I kept on telling him. And he was getting very irritated. Very irritated," Gachagua recalled.

The former DP framed his fallout with Ruto as less about personal ambition and more about ideological conflict.

Gachagua claimed his role in government became increasingly difficult as he began opposing key policies that he believed would harm the very citizens who had entrusted them with power.

One of the flashpoints, he said, was the controversial finance bill, which he bluntly dismissed as unworkable.

Beyond policy, Gachagua also pointed to the administration’s tightening grip on political dissent, suggesting that the government had lost touch with its democratic ideals.

When asked why he remained in government if he had such profound disagreements with the leadership, Gachagua pointed to the democratic legitimacy he had been given by Kenyans.

"I was employed by the people of Kenya through a vote. Only them would fire me. I needed to stay inside so that I can try to correct things from insideI stopped. In my own small way, I stopped many things. Many things I would say no. And that is why he could not stand me. He got irritated because I was asking questions. In the Cabinet, I'm the only man who could say no. This is wrong. Nobody can talk. Even today, everybody is a yes sir. That's what he wanted. William Ruto is everything."

The former DP had earlier claimed that he keeps photos of President William Ruto in his Wamunyoro home as reminders of betrayal.

Gachagua stated that Ruto frequently visited his home during the 2022 campaign, seeking his support.

They took photos together, which Gachagua now retains to remind himself of the trust he placed in Ruto, who later supported his impeachment.

He explained that these images serve as a cautionary reminder against trusting others without thorough assessment.

Source: TUKO.co.ke