The political landscape in Kenya has been stirred by a deepening family dispute involving former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and President William Ruto, centering on the estate of the late Nyeri Governor Nderitu Gachagua. The controversy escalated when President William Ruto publicly intervened on March 29, 2026, after attending a Palm Sunday service in Naivasha, Nakuru County, following a petition from Nderitu Gachagua's family. The family alleged that the deceased's will, pertaining to a Sh2 billion estate, was forged with the intent to defraud them of their rightful inheritance.

President Ruto, addressing residents, vowed to ensure justice for the family, emphasizing that "what belongs to orphans and widows must be returned." He specifically mentioned properties such as a hotel in Nairobi and property in Kilifi, stating they "must be returned" from the bereaved family. Ruto asserted that while he could withstand insults, widows and orphans could not, and therefore, he would defend them. These remarks appeared to be a direct response to earlier statements made by Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika, who had advocated for the protection of widowed women, warning that unresolved disputes of this nature could establish a harmful precedent for other families.

Conversely, Rigathi Gachagua has accused President Ruto of undue interference in his family affairs, even suggesting that the head of state was inciting his late brother's widow against him. In a local podcast appearance on March 27, Rigathi vehemently denied claims that he exploited his brother's deteriorating health to expedite the creation of a will while Nderitu was undergoing cancer treatment in London, shortly before his death in 2017. He maintained that the will had been legally adopted by all 21 beneficiaries before a court of law and asserted that any challenge to its validity should be channeled through the judiciary, rather than the Office of the President.

Rigathi Gachagua further questioned why a document, which he claimed was being studied as a model at the Kenya School of Law, would only now face challenges. He elaborated on the will's provisions, stating that his late brother "gave his property to everybody, not his wives and children alone." According to Rigathi, the will included "his two wives, four children, the two other women in his life and their children, and all his brothers and their children," bringing the total number of beneficiaries to 21. He added that the will directed the sale of all properties and the distribution of proceeds to beneficiaries according to a specific formula, with some receiving 10 percent, others five, two, or three. Rigathi insisted that the three appointed executors – himself, lawyer Njoroge Regeru, and Mwai Mathenge, a longtime friend of the deceased – strictly adhered to his brother's wishes. This ongoing family dispute was also a significant factor during Rigathi Gachagua's impeachment proceedings in October 2024.