The political gloves are off, and Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is pulling no punches. In a blistering press conference that felt more like a prosecution than a briefing, Gachagua laid bare what he terms a "litany of lies" sold by President William Ruto to the people of Northern Kenya.

With a dossier of unfulfilled pledges in hand, Gachagua systematically dismantled the administration's record in the arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs). The timing was surgical—delivered just hours before President Ruto is scheduled to visit the region. Gachagua’s message was clear: The President is coming to launch "air," while the people are dying of thirst.

The Calculus of Neglect

Gachagua did not just deal in rhetoric; he brought receipts. He highlighted the promise of mega-dams and water pans that remain non-existent three years later. But his most damning indictment was financial. He pointed out that the government allocated a paltry KSh 4 billion to share among 23 arid counties. When broken down, the math is horrifying.

“This translates to about 173 million per county and just Ksh 1,200 shillings per person for 3.3 million people in need,” Gachagua thundered. He contrasted this figure with the United Nations minimum food basket of Ksh 2,700, effectively accusing the government of budgeting for starvation. “The government does not take human life seriously,” he added, a soundbite destined to dominate the evening news.

• The Luxury Jet Row: Gachagua juxtaposed the austerity in the north with the opulence in Nairobi, criticizing the Office of the Deputy President for blowing KSh 338 million on private jets and chartered flights while citizens starved.
• The "Silence" of Leaders: He turned his fire on Northern Kenya leaders, accusing them of complicity through silence. He claimed over KSh 1 trillion has been devolved since 2013 with little to show for it, asking why these leaders are "comfortable in Nairobi."
• The National Tragedy: He reframed the northern crisis not as a regional issue, but as a stain on the national conscience. “The people of Northern Kenya are Kenyans. Their children are Kenyan children,” he affirmed.

A Political War on a New Front

This attack signals a new phase in Gachagua’s political rehabilitation. By championing the cause of a region often marginalized by the central government, he is expanding his base beyond Mount Kenya. He is positioning himself as the defender of the downtrodden, the truth-teller who is unafraid to speak power to the very throne he once sat beside.

For President Ruto, the upcoming tour of the North has now become a minefield. Every handshake and every ribbon-cutting will be shadowed by Gachagua’s accusations. The residents, armed with these new figures, may demand more than just speeches—they may demand the dams, the water, and the dignity they were promised.

As the dust settles on Gachagua’s podium, one thing is certain: the battle for the narrative of 2027 has begun in earnest, and the weapon of choice is the unkept promise.