Ruto Adds Task To Gachagua After 2023 Executive Order

President William Ruto has directed his deputy, Rigathi Gachagua to deal with the crisis affecting the coffee, tea and milk sectors.

Speaking during an Interdenominational church service in Bomet Green Stadium, Bomet County on Sunday, January 15, the Head of State instructed his junior to dismantle the cartels head-on.

"You have heard that the responsibility of dealing with and chasing away conmen, brokers and cartels in those sectors will be led by the deputy president.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua speaking during an Interdenominational church service in Bomet Green Stadium, Bomet County on Sunday, January 15, 2023. /FACEBOOK.WILLIAM RUTO

"I have assigned him that task because I know he can do it and because I know that in his heart he loves the downtrodden people and will make sure that the job is done," Ruto addressed.

Ruto further clarified reports that the assigning of tasks to Gachagua was a set-up so that he can fail and open him up to criticism. He believed that he too was going to fail in the event Gachagua flops.

The President expressed that the cartels are afraid of Gachagua because they know that he is a man of his word, and will not bring childsplay to the tasks he has been assigned to do, hence attempts to oppose him.

"I know that there are some people driving propaganda that I have given him that task in order to plan for him to fail. If the Deputy President fails, will I still be standing? If he fails then will I have failed too?

"Those that are opposing him so that he does not execute that task because they know he will not play games. So Mr Deputy President, move with speed and get rid of those cartels and brokers," he ordered.

Earlier, Gachagua promised to deal with the cartels that have gone to the extent of causing anguish among farmers, especially those dealing with the tea sector.

"Those who reap off the sweat of tea farmers, your days are over. We will deal with you because you have hurt the farmers for too long. 

"The farmers have suffered and the people of state capture have used their banks to steal from farmers. We will keep discussing those issues," he addressed.

In Executive Order No. 1 of 2023, President Ruto assigned DP Gachagua the duty of spearheading coffee reforms in the country.

"Now, therefore, I, William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and Statute Laws of Kenya, hereby order and direct that this Order assigns functions and institutions among Ministries and State Departments as hereunder; and that this Order supersedes Executive Order No. 1 of 2022 issued on 12th October 2022," the order stated.