The rift between President William Ruto and his former deputy Rigathi Gachagua has moved to the classroom. In a pointed rebuke, the President has told Gachagua to "let our children be," criticizing the latter’s push for ethnic regionalism in school admissions.

The clash stems from Gachagua’s recent remarks that students from Mt Kenya should be given priority in the region’s elite national schools like Alliance and Mang’u. The former DP argued that local parents "built these schools" and their children should not be displaced by "outsiders."

The President’s Rebuttal

Speaking at a church service, Ruto dismantled this logic, terming it a threat to national cohesion. "A child from Turkana has every right to study in Kiambu," he declared. "We are building a nation, not a collection of tribal enclaves."

• The Policy: The Ministry of Education’s placement formula relies on merit and affirmative action, not geography. Ruto defended this as the only way to ensure equity.
• Gachagua’s Strategy: Analysts view Gachagua’s comments as a calculated populist move to whip up emotions in his base, framing himself as the defender of Mt Kenya’s interests against a "hostile" central government.
• The Stakes: By politicizing education, the leaders risk poisoning the minds of the next generation. "When you tell a child they don't belong in a school because of their tribe, you are planting a seed of hate," warned an education expert.

A Deepening Feud

This exchange confirms that the political divorce is final. Education is merely the latest battleground. As 2027 approaches, expect every government policy to be viewed through this fractured lens.