Impeached Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has made explosive claims that he survived two attempts to poison him. Gachagua, speaking publicly for the first time since being hospitalized, also expressed shock at what he described as Ruto’s “vicious” actions, calling the withdrawal of his security detail an attack on his life and family.
Gachagua, who was recently impeached by the Senate, told reporters that undercover security agents attempted to poison his food on two separate occasions. He attributed the alleged attempts to agents from Kenya’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) but stated that he managed to escape unharmed.
“On the 30th of August, undercover security agents entered my room in Kisumu and bugged it. One of them tried to poison my food, but we detected it and were able to escape the scheme,” Gachagua claimed. He further alleged that another poisoning attempt took place just days later. “On the 3rd of September in Nyeri, a team from the National Intelligence Service tried to poison food meant for me and Kikuyu council elders,” he said, adding that his life had been in constant danger since then.
Gachagua, who once stood side by side with President Ruto during the 2022 presidential campaign, said that his fall from grace was due to his willingness to speak out against the president’s policies. He claims his forthrightness on issues such as over-taxation, forced housing programs, and the eviction of people without compensation led to a breakdown in their relationship.
“My only problem with the president is just being truthful,” Gachagua said, adding that his stance on several contentious policies had cost him his position. “Mr. President, don’t overtax people; you are killing them, you are killing their businesses. Don’t force a housing program on people if they don’t own these houses,” he said, directly addressing Ruto in his remarks.
Gachagua’s impeachment process, which he described as unfair and politically motivated, came as a shock to many. The former deputy president maintains that it was an orchestrated plan by President Ruto to remove him from power and replace him with someone more compliant.
“The 11 counts against me are nothing but malice and fiction. It was a political game by the president to get rid of me,” Gachagua said. He insisted that he was denied a fair chance to defend himself before the Senate, claiming that the process was rushed to prevent him from responding to the charges leveled against him.
The embattled politician also criticized the swift pace of his removal, questioning why the constitutional framework for impeachment was ignored. “The framers of the constitution gave the president 14 days to look for somebody to replace the deputy president and Parliament another 60 days. That’s a total of 74 days. Why is a job prescribed to be done in 74 days being done in half a day?” Gachagua asked, accusing the administration of circumventing justice to hasten his exit.
Throughout the address, Gachagua repeatedly returned to the theme of betrayal, recounting his role in supporting Ruto during the contentious 2022 elections. He described how, unlike other political heavyweights who demanded written agreements before backing Ruto, he trusted the president because of their shared Christian faith.
“I am the only man who trusted him verbally because we are Christians. We used to go to church together, and as a Christian, I believed a fellow Christian would never betray me or my people,” Gachagua said. He expressed deep disappointment at the way their relationship had unraveled, particularly in light of the support he had offered Ruto in the past.
Gachagua also warned that his life remains in danger, highlighting the complete withdrawal of his security detail. According to him, President Ruto ordered the removal of all security personnel assigned to him, both at his residence and during his time in hospital.
“The deputy president of the Republic of Kenya has no single security officer around him. I’m alone,” he said, revealing that his family had also been affected by the heightened security risks. He pointedly called on Kenyans to hold Ruto accountable should anything happen to him or his family. “If anything happens to me or my family, President William Ruto must be held to account,” he said.
The former deputy president, who played a key role in mobilizing the vote for Ruto in the Mount Kenya region, also lamented that he had become a target because of his perceived influence and ability to stand up to the president. “I’m the only man in the cabinet who can stand up to President William Ruto and tell him, ‘Hey brother, this is not right,'” he said.
Despite his precarious situation, Gachagua vowed to continue seeking justice through the courts. He called on Chief Justice Martha Koome to ensure that the constitution is upheld and that his case is heard fairly. “Let the courts of law uphold and protect our constitution,” he said, expressing hope that the judiciary would provide him with a fair hearing.
In the meantime, Gachagua says he fears for his life, pleading with the president to leave him and his family alone. “Mr. President, I beg you—don’t kill us. Don’t kill my children. You have caused me enough pain for the last year. Please leave me alone. Let me have my peace,” he said.
