Rigathi Gachagua: I funded Ruto’s campaign heavily, I never asked for Ksh.10 Billion from him
During a televised interview with KTN News on Monday, Gachagua described the allegations as baseless and a deliberate attempt to tarnish his reputation, particularly in his Central Kenya stronghold.
“I never blackmailed the President. If that were the case, it would have been the first charge during the efforts to force me out of office,” Gachagua said, adding that the impeachment narrative against him was orchestrated by President Ruto, the National Intelligence Service, and the then Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof. Kithure Kindiki.
The former Deputy President also questioned the shifting explanations given for his removal from office, accusing the President and his allies of telling different stories depending on the region under consideration.
“In Western Kenya, he said I was incompetent and tribal. In North Eastern, he claimed I was divisive. In Nyanza, he called me primitive and corrupt,” Gachagua stated. “But when he came to Mt. Kenya, none of that was mentioned. Instead, he claimed I had asked for Ksh.10 billion.”
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Gachagua also accused members of the President's inner circle, including digital strategist Dennis Itumbi and National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah, of previously presenting conflicting figures about the alleged funds.
He dismissed the allegations entirely, asserting that he had financially supported Ruto’s presidential campaign out of personal commitment.
“I was in trouble with the previous administration because I was funding Ruto’s campaign,” he explained. “They froze my accounts, blocked my businesses, and tried to stop me. I invested heavily in his campaign—I’m not the type to go around asking him for money.”
He also criticized a recent event in which President Ruto reportedly met with a group of female dancers from Central Kenya and presented them with Ksh.8,000 each.
According to Gachagua, the women were allegedly told to accept the money because the former deputy president had wanted to "eat it alone"—a narrative he described as dishonest and manipulative.
The allegations against Gachagua resurfaced last week, during President Ruto's five-day tour of Central Kenya.
In a roundtable interview with vernacular stations, the president claimed that tensions between him and his then-deputy began shortly after assuming office, primarily due to Gachagua’s confrontations with key allies, including blogger Dennis Itumbi and MPs Ndindi Nyoro and Kimani Ichung’wah.
“I asked him, ‘Why are you fighting with Itumbi, my PA Farouk, and these young leaders? What’s the need for such small battles?’” Ruto recounted.
The President went on to claim that Gachagua had threatened him with political repercussions unless he released Ksh.10 billion to help build regional support.
“I was told, ‘I can make you a one-term president unless you give me Ksh.10 billion to organize politics in the region.’ I refused. If my fate is to be a one-term president, so be it,” Ruto said.
