Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has claimed that some senior government officials serving under President William Ruto are privately seeking meetings with him at his Wamunyoro residence despite publicly backing the Kenya Kwanza administration.
Speaking on Saturday, Gachagua alleged that Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries and Members of Parliament had expressed interest in visiting him discreetly but were reluctant to be seen doing so.
"Some of Ruto's Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries and MPs are looking for me. They want to come to Wamunyoro at night. I don't want that. They should come during the day and have their photos taken," Gachagua said.
He said he had no interest in holding clandestine political meetings, insisting that anyone wishing to consult him should do so openly.
"Why come at night if you believe in what you are doing? Come in broad daylight. I have nothing to hide," he said.
The remarks come against the backdrop of the dramatic collapse of the political alliance between President Ruto and Gachagua, who were elected together on the Kenya Kwanza ticket in the 2022 General Election.
Their relationship began to unravel in 2024 amid an intense power struggle within the ruling coalition. Gachagua repeatedly accused powerful individuals within the administration of sidelining him from government decision-making and frustrating his efforts to champion the interests of the Mt Kenya region.
"I was removed because I refused to be a 'yes sir' man. My crime was speaking for the people who elected us," Gachagua has previously said.
The fallout culminated in his impeachment by Parliament in October 2024 on charges including abuse of office, violation of the Constitution and gross misconduct. He denied all the allegations, maintaining that the impeachment was politically orchestrated.
"I stood with President Ruto when many people doubted him, but he rewarded loyalty with betrayal," Gachagua said in a previous address.
Since leaving office, Gachagua has reinvented himself as one of President Ruto's fiercest critics, accusing the administration of abandoning its campaign promises and using state institutions to intimidate dissenting voices.
"No amount of intimidation will silence me. They already took away my seat. I have nothing else to lose," he has said.
His home in Wamunyoro, Nyeri County, has since become a political gathering point for opposition leaders, religious figures and professionals as consultations continue ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Gachagua says the meetings are open to anyone willing to engage on the country's future.
"Wamunyoro is open to every Kenyan. Anyone who wants to discuss the future of this country is welcome. This is not about me; it is about rescuing Kenya," he has said.
He now claims even some leaders serving in President Ruto's government are quietly reaching out to him.
"Many leaders are calling me quietly. They cannot say it publicly because they fear repercussions," Gachagua said in an earlier address.
He added: "Those who abuse me during the day are the same people calling me at night."
However, Gachagua did not identify the Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries or Members of Parliament he alleged had sought private meetings with him, nor did he provide evidence to support the claims.
His latest remarks are likely to intensify speculation over disquiet within the Kenya Kwanza administration as political realignments gather momentum ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The former Deputy President has been leading efforts to bring together opposition leaders in a bid to mount a formidable challenge against President Ruto, insisting the movement transcends individual political ambitions.
"Our mission is to unite all Kenyans who believe this country deserves better leadership," he has said.
State House had not responded to Gachagua's latest claims by the time of publication, while the Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries and Members of Parliament he referred to had also not commented.
