In his most pointed criticism to date, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Wednesday accused President William Ruto of perpetrating “the greatest electoral fraud since independence,” deepening a political chasm that threatens to redefine the landscape ahead of the 2027 general election.

The remarks signal a dramatic escalation in the fallout between the two former allies, a rift that began long before Gachagua's historic impeachment in October 2024. Now at the helm of the newly formed Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), Gachagua is positioning himself as a formidable critic of the administration he helped bring to power.

A Campaign Built on Theatrics

Gachagua alleges that President Ruto's 2022 campaign was a carefully orchestrated performance designed to manipulate a devout electorate. “He came with the Holy Bible and tears. He sang all vernacular songs. He memorized all vernacular greetings across the Country. He spoke in tongues,” Gachagua stated, arguing that these theatrics were a smokescreen. “He conned all of us. Being Christians, we all fell for his antics and gave him our votes.”

Once in office, Gachagua claims, the president abandoned this persona, instead overseeing policies that have led to widespread economic hardship and abuses of power. He specifically singled out:

• The plunder of public resources and the sale of strategic national assets.
• A surge in abductions and extrajudicial killings.
• Punitive tax measures that have crippled ordinary Kenyans and raided payslips, turning the working class into “beggars in their own country.”

The Mt Kenya Fracture

The impeachment of Gachagua, who was seen as the political kingpin of the vote-rich Mt Kenya region, has sent shockwaves through the area that overwhelmingly supported the Ruto-Gachagua ticket. Many of the President's allies from the region have reportedly faced a hostile reception from their constituents since the ouster. Political analysts note the impeachment may have backfired, fueling a rebellion in a critical voting bloc and casting uncertainty on the region's future political direction.

Gachagua's new party, the DCP, is actively working to consolidate this discontent and establish itself as the dominant political force in Mt Kenya. This move directly challenges the President's United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and sets the stage for a fierce political battle for the heart of the region.

An Economy Under Scrutiny

While Gachagua paints a grim picture of the economy, the Ruto administration points to several positive indicators. Government officials have highlighted a significant drop in inflation and the stabilization of the Kenyan shilling as evidence of sound economic policies. However, critics argue that the government's focus on revenue generation through heavy taxation has come at the expense of pro-growth policies in vital sectors like agriculture and manufacturing.

As the political rhetoric intensifies, the core of the dispute remains rooted in broken promises. Gachagua insists he was sidelined from decision-making shortly after the election, reduced to a bystander in a government he claims is driven by “greed and deceit.” For many Kenyans, the political drama is a sideshow to the daily struggle of putting food on the table, a reality that will undoubtedly shape the political landscape as 2027 approaches.