Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Saturday launched a blistering attack on President William Ruto’s administration, accusing it of brutality, injustice, and failing to protect the basic rights of ordinary Kenyans.
Speaking to a large crowd in Karatina town, Nyeri County, Gachagua said Kenyans would no longer remain silent as the country slid into what he described as repression and neglect of social services. “We, the people of Kenya, shall not sit and watch injustice being done to any one of us,” he said. “No Kenyan deserves to die in the hands of this brutal regime.”
Gachagua framed his remarks around education, healthcare, and the safety of citizens, insisting that these were non-negotiable rights guaranteed by the Constitution. “Every Kenyan child must go to school, and every Kenyan has a right to healthcare,” he told the crowd, drawing loud applause from supporters.
The rally marked one of Gachagua’s most direct public confrontations with the Ruto administration since his removal from office, and it came amid growing political tension following recent protests across the country. Those demonstrations, driven largely by anger over the cost of living, governance concerns, and police conduct, have left several people dead and many others injured, according to human rights groups. The government has denied sanctioning excessive force.
Addressing the political significance of the region, Gachagua said the turnout in Karatina signaled a major shift in public sentiment in Mt Kenya, a region that overwhelmingly backed President Ruto in the 2022 election. “The people of Karatina have spoken in one solid voice,” he said. “It is time for real change and the liberation of our nation.”
He portrayed the moment as a national awakening rather than a personal or regional grievance, urging Kenyans from all backgrounds to stand together against what he termed misrule. While calling for firmness, he urged supporters to remain peaceful, saying lasting change could only be achieved through unity and collective action.
Gachagua concluded by thanking residents of Karatina and Nyeri County for their support and reception, ending his address on a patriotic and religious note. “Thank you, Karatina. God bless you, God bless Kenya,” he said, as supporters cheered and chanted his name.
Political observers say Gachagua’s increasingly combative tone and his choice of Mt Kenya towns for public rallies point to a broader effort to reassert his influence in the region and position himself as a key figure in the unfolding opposition to President Ruto’s government.
