Ruto Offered me Ksh2 Billion to Resign - Gachagua Says

Gachagua
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua attending a burial in Murang'a, December 31, 2024.
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Rigathi Gachagua

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has alleged that President William Ruto offered him Ksh2 billion to resign from his government position as the second in command.

Speaking on Tuesday morning during an interview with Western radio stations at Karen in Nairobi, Gachagua also alleged that he was impeached because he was vocal on issues affecting Kenyans.

He alleged that each Member of Parliament was reportedly given a Ksh500,000 token while Senators received Ksh10 million each to dismiss him from his government role.

“The president told me to quit so that he can give me Ksh2 billion so that I can go on with my business and have security. He told me to quit so that I could vie in future but I asked myself how can the president plan my future yet he wants me to quit,” Gachagua alleged.

A collage of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Parliament Buildings.
A collage of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Parliament Buildings.
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Parliament, Gachagua

While taking a swipe at Ruto's administration, the former DP also dismissed claims of being worried because of an alleged scheme by the government to deny him the chance to vie for a political position in the 2027 general elections.

According to Gachagua, it is not a must for him to vie for any political seat in the country, adding that despite the threats, he will still express his political opinions.

“The issues people are trying to bring up—that I cannot vie for any political seat because I was impeached—is none of my business. People think that I love myself too much, it is not a must for me to vie for any political seat in this country,” the former DP said.

"But my right to vie for a seat in this country cannot be withdrawn, if I want to vie for a seat in the future, I will do so, but that is not necessary right now."

Gachagua further hit out at the Head of State over what he termed reluctance by the government to resolve the surging cases of abductions in the country.

The former DP disclosed that he first made public the issue of abductions while he was still in government. However, despite raising the matter severally with the Head of State, nothing has since been done to end the menace.

Gachagua accused Ruto of contradicting himself by calling for a ceasefire in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), yet Kenyans were still grappling with incidents of extrajudicial killings and forced disappearances.

"There is nothing wrong our children have committed, they are simply saying that the country is not headed in the right direction and that the country's economy is in a slump. It is their right to question such issues," the former DP commented.

A photo collage of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua (left) and President William Ruto
A photo collage of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua (left) and President William Ruto.
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DPPS
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