Gachagua: Ruto, NIS, Secret Recordings, Farouk Kibet & Other Spill-Tea Claims

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Monday, April 7 surfaced with more explosive allegations against President William Ruto, this time round revealing involvements by Professor Kithure Kindiki and the National Intelligence Service (NIS) in his impeachment. 

In a tell-all interview with KTN, Gachagua claimed that the impeachment motion was drafted together with the NIS and that it was Ruto's idea to throw him out of office. “This impeachment motion was crafted by President William Ruto, drafted by the National Intelligence Service and Professor Kithure Kindiki," he said.

This is contrary to sentiments by the Head of State last week that he did not append his signature that gave the green light for Members of Parliament (MPs) and the Senate to impeach Gachagua as Deputy President in October 2024.

At the same time, Gachagua fired back at the President's earlier allegation that he had asked for KSh10 billion to step down from the Deputy Presidency, dismissing the claim as false.

Instead, he stood by his previous assertion that it was actually the President who offered him KSh2 billion to resign, warning that if he didn’t, he’d be impeached.

"The President should make up his mind on how much money I was supposedly asking for. His 'chief propagandist', Dennis Itumbi, wrote that I asked for Ksh 6.5 billion. His 'Mr. Fix-It', Kimani Ichung’wah, claimed it was Ksh 8 billion. Then Ruto himself said I asked for Ksh 10 billion. Can they sit down and agree on a figure that Rigathi Gachagua is supposed to have asked for? But it’s all just a narrative he wanted to push in the Mountain," the former DP uncovered.

"If it were true, it would have come up during the impeachment. Earlier, the President called me and said he couldn’t work with me anymore. He offered me Ksh 2 billion, but I refused. He told me, 'Instead of going home empty-handed, I want you to at least leave with your retirement package — I can get you something to start off with, like KSh 1.5 to 2 billion. ' I told him I was not interested."

In Gachagua's view, Ruto's claim of blackmail should have been classified as "accusation number one" during the impeachment, as it was a criminal offense.

Further, Gachagua alleged secretly recording conversations between him and an unnamed officer sent by Ruto. "That Friday, when my (impeachment) case was at the Senate, the President sent an officer to me. He told the officer I should have a conversation with him."

He added: "We met somewhere along Statehouse Road.  We had a conversation with the President giving me that offer again and I declined. That officer urged me to listen to the President but I said no."

The former Deputy President accused Ruto of repeatedly lashing out at him whenever he raised concerns about the President’s approach—something he says played a major role in the collapse of their relationship.

Gachagua went on to reference an alleged conversation with Ruto, claiming he was verbally attacked simply for speaking out against some of the President’s close allies.