Kiambu Senator Karungo wa Thang’wa has claimed that the political fallout between President William Ruto and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua can be traced to efforts to undermine the Deputy President’s office.
Speaking during an interview with a local radio station on Thursday, September 3, 2026, Thang’wa argued that Ruto selected Gachagua as his running mate in the 2022 presidential election largely because he believed the pairing would strengthen his chances of winning.
The senator, however, claimed that some Members of Parliament within the Kenya Kwanza coalition were opposed to Gachagua’s selection from the outset.
Senator Says Gachagua Delivered
Thang’wa maintained that Gachagua ultimately played his part in helping the Kenya Kwanza ticket secure victory in the 2022 election, despite reservations among some politicians.
He argued that although certain MPs may not have supported Gachagua personally, the former Deputy President had been elected alongside Ruto by Kenyan voters and therefore deserved recognition as part of the winning ticket.
According to Thang’wa, some politicians lost sight of the fact that Gachagua had received a direct mandate from voters alongside the President.
Nyoro Accused of Weakening Deputy President’s Office
The Kiambu senator placed Ndindi Nyoro at the centre of what he described as the early stages of Gachagua’s political difficulties.
Thang’wa claimed that tensions emerged because some politicians believed Gachagua did not command sufficient support among MPs, creating an environment in which the Deputy President’s influence could be challenged.
He specifically alleged that Nyoro was used by President Ruto to weaken the institution of the Deputy President.
Ruto-Gachagua Fallout
Thang’wa’s claims add to the continuing political debate over the breakdown of the relationship between Ruto and Gachagua, which eventually led to Gachagua leaving the Deputy President’s office.
The senator’s remarks also highlight the competing accounts among political figures over the origins of the disagreements that emerged within the Kenya Kwanza administration after the 2022 election.
