DCP party leader Rigathi Gachagua speaks during the burial of MP James Gakuya's mother in Murang'a on January 3, 2026. PHOTO | COURTESY
The Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua on Sunday launched a blistering attack on President William Ruto, accusing him of shielding alleged drug barons within his Cabinet and protecting individuals he claims are behind the Minnesota fraud scheme linked to Kenya.
Speaking during a church service at AIPCA Kiratina in Kiambu County, Gachagua claimed the President’s public posture on fighting narcotics was contradicted by the people he keeps close, daring him to begin the crackdown from within his own government.
“Nimeona jana ukisema mambo ya wale wanauza cocaine na heroin, ati utadeal nao, kwanza futa wale mawaziri uko nao wawili wanajulikana kwa kuuza madawa. Kwanza futa hao drug barons uko nao kwa Cabinet ndio tuamine uko genuine,” Gachagua said.
“I had that programme running ukaiharibu, sasa kwanza futa hao majamaa uko nayo kwa Cabinet ndio tujue uko serious.”
Gachagua also dragged the United States into Kenya’s domestic political debate, urging US President Donald Trump to conduct in Kenya a similar forceful operation similar to the one carried out in Venezuela on Saturday early morning, which he resulted in the capture of President Nicolas Maduro.
“Mambo ya Minnesota, pesa iliibiwa, wale watu wamehusika ni business partners wa Rais. Mwenye mall iko Eastleigh ndiye mwenye hiyo scheme. We are asking you Trump, don’t bother about the extradition process in Kenya, wewe fanya vile ulifanya Venezuela, because Ruto amesema jamaa asitolewe huku,” he said.
He alleged that the same individuals linked to the Minnesota scandal were still benefiting from government contracts, to the detriment of local farmers.
“Huyo jamaa ndiye bado anahangaisha wakulima wa Mwea sababu amepewa kandarasi ya kuleta duty free rice, Tunataka hiyo ndege ya kumkujia ata Kasongo atakuwa amehusika na pesa ya Minnesota, awekwe kwa hio ndege pia yeye,” Gachagua added.
In his address, the former Deputy President painted the Kenya Kwanza administration as incoherent and failing at the most basic level of governance, citing delays in capitation funds for schools.
“Tunaenda hii January kama hakuna pesa ya capitation. Ministry inasema kuna pesa lakini kama hakupeana ya last year, ya hii mwaka ndio iko? This is a totally confused government, fish rots from the head,” he said.
He further accused the government of sidelining communities in school placement, saying children from certain regions were being locked out of national schools.
“Watoto wetu wamenyimwa nafasi kwa shule za national za hapa kwetu, wanapelekwa kwa day schools, shule zetu zinapewa watu wengine,” he said.
Gachagua also dismissed recent opinion polls showing majority support for Ruto, branding them fabrications meant to shore up the President’s standing and reassure financiers.
“Huyu kasongo amefika mwisho. Amekataliwa Kisii, amekataliwa Western, sasa anafanya opinion poll ya uongo. Those are fake opinion polls, hawa watu wa Infotrak na TIFA, these are fake people,” he said.
He insisted that his party was on an upward trajectory, adding: “Ignore those opinion polls, DCP is the most popular party in the country na tuendelee kujenga chama yetu.”
Turning to Ruto’s development rhetoric, Gachagua mocked the President’s frequent references to global economic models.
“Hii mtu anatubeba ufala, ati anataka kutupeleka Singapore. Ulikuja ukapata masomo inafanya ukaharibu, ukaharibu afya, don’t give us that Singapore nonsense. Kwanza malizana na bottom up,” he said.
Gachagua also warned President Ruto against what he termed sustained attacks on former President Uhuru Kenyatta, calling for respect for the retired Head of State.
“Kasongo, Uhuru Kenyatta is not your agemate, you’re a young man, respect our retired president. Wacha kutuma hao vijana wadogo kutusi Uhuru,” he said.
Challenging the President directly, he added: “Kama wewe ni mwanaume acha kutuma Junet, Wanga na Ichung’wah kumtusi, tokea uongee na sisi tukuamkie.”
“I have been very decent with you, tokea so that I can also undress you, nimekuwa nikiguzia hii ya juujuu. Wachana na Uhuru Kenyatta ukijipiga kifua ulimshinda, tokea kumenyana wewe na pia sisi tutokee.” By Ian Omondi, Citizen Digital
