Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, on Monday, April 7, emerged with yet more explosive allegations against his former boss, President William Ruto, regarding the circumstances leading to his impeachment from office.
In a televised interview, Gachagua spoke on an array of issues, including earlier claims by the president that the former DP demanded Ksh10 billion to walk away from the deputy presidency.
While strongly refuting the claims, Gachagua doubled down on his initial accusations that he was offered a Ksh2 billion package by the president to resign or else he'd face impeachment.
According to the former Mathira MP, Ruto, through an unnamed "official," approached him several times with the offer before finally resorting to an impeachment motion.
"That Friday when my (impeachment) case was at the Senate, the president sent an officer to me. He told the officer I should have a conversation with him," the former DP claimed, adding that he secretly recorded all the conversations.
He added, "We met somewhere along State House Road. We had a conversation with the president, where I was given that offer again, and I declined. That officer (from my community) urged me to listen to the president, but I said no."
The former DP accused Ruto of consistent verbal abuse whenever he tried to question his methods, a dynamic that he claims ultimately led to the breakdown of their relationship.
Gachagua proceeded to cite a conversation he allegedly had with his former boss, where he claims he was insulted for trying to voice concerns against the president's close aides.
On the issue of demanding Ksh10 billion from the president to resign as Deputy President, Gachagua accused Ruto of using the narrative to further an agenda against him as a political tactic to swing the Mount Kenya votes his way.
"When he came to Mount Kenya, he tried to drive a narrative also against Gachagua, including this issue of Ksh10 billion, Gachagua alleged. "Of course, I did not blackmail the president because if I did, it would have been the first accusation in the Senate."
"It was just a narrative he wanted to bring to the mountain because he committed himself to never betraying me. He needed something to tell the people of the mountain."
The former deputy president also addressed his alleged feuds with MPs and close aides of the president following Ruto's remarks on Monday, March 31. Gachagua admitted he was unwilling to "take orders" from individuals he considered lower in the political hierarchy— a stance he believes led the President's camp to label him as defiant.
"Advising Members of Parliament to listen to the ground is not a small fight. I listen to the people. They did not want the Finance Bill. I told the MPs not to follow the President blindly," Gachagua reiterated.
Contrary to President Ruto's March 31 statement, where he claimed the fallout with Gachagua stemmed from the former deputy president's failure to support government projects, Gachagua asserted that tensions began over disagreements regarding the appointment of Permanent Secretaries in various ministries.
