Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has intensified his criticism of President William Ruto’s administration, accusing it of presiding over economic decline and widespread injustice.
Speaking during a public engagement in Illasit, Kajiado South Constituency, Gachagua said the country was grappling with what he termed as “economic brutality,” blaming the current regime for the rising cost of living and deteriorating livelihoods.
“We cannot tire of informing the people of Kenya about the economic brutality and the injustices caused by this regime,” he said. “The destruction of our economy and the perversion of our country are the root causes of the many challenges we face as a nation.”
However, government data presents a more mixed picture. According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, inflation has shown signs of easing in recent months, even as food prices and household costs remain a concern for many families. The agency has pointed to relative stability in some sectors, while acknowledging pressure on disposable incomes.
President Ruto has repeatedly defended his administration’s economic policies, arguing that current hardships are part of a necessary transition. In recent addresses, he has said reforms in taxation, agriculture and housing are designed to stabilise the economy in the long term.
“We are fixing the economy from the bottom up. The decisions we are making today may be difficult, but they are necessary to secure the future of our country,” Ruto said in a past public address, urging patience from Kenyans.
On the ground in Kajiado, residents expressed a mix of frustration and cautious optimism. Some wananchi who attended the Illasit meeting said the high cost of living continues to strain households.
“Life is not easy. Prices are still high, and jobs are hard to find,” said one trader at the gathering.
Others, however, said they were beginning to see small improvements and were willing to give the government more time to implement its agenda.
“We want change, but we also want solutions. If the government can deliver, we will support it,” another resident said.
Gachagua, in his address, said his outreach meetings are aimed at mobilising public support and creating awareness about what he described as systemic failures under Ruto’s leadership. He told residents that the opposition would chart a new political path in the coming months.
“Our promise is that within the next 14 months, we will begin the journey to reclaim our country and set it back on the right path,” he said.
His remarks come amid an increasingly charged political environment, with leaders stepping up grassroots campaigns ahead of the 2027 General Election, as competing narratives over the state of the economy continue to shape public debate.
