Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has claimed that President William Ruto could face financial difficulties ahead of the 2027 General Election due to increasing demands for monetary handouts from groups visiting State House.
Speaking at his Wamunyoro residence while hosting leaders from Murang’a County on Wednesday, Gachagua alleged that the trend of issuing facilitation funds to visiting delegations had created unsustainable expectations across the country.
Gachagua told the gathering that village elders had expressed disappointment after receiving Ksh3,000 each following a recent visit to State House, an amount they reportedly considered lower than anticipated.
“Village elders told me they were shocked that they received only Ksh3,000 as facilitation after visiting State House. They had expected Ksh10,000. I told them the president has now become broke. Everybody wants money from him,” Gachagua said.
He further claimed that the situation reflects growing public perception about the administration’s political future, suggesting that more groups are seeking financial benefits as the next election approaches.
“Everybody knows he is heading home and wants their share. That is why the amount has reduced. I know that by 2027, he will have been completely wiped out financially,” he added.
The former deputy president also linked the alleged trend to recent political events, particularly the Ol Kalou by-election, which he said had influenced public expectations across different regions.
According to Gachagua, communities that previously did not seek financial incentives are now making similar demands after observing what transpired during the by-election campaigns.
“After what happened in Ol Kalou, every community now wants its share. People who never used to ask for money are now demanding it because they saw what the government did there,” he stated.
He added that the demands are no longer confined to one region, but have spread across the country, with communities seeking equal treatment.1
“Everyone now wants to be treated the same way; if you go to the west, they are demanding the same as Nyanza and other regions,” Gachagua said.
The remarks come amid heightened political activity and early positioning ahead of the 2027 elections, with leaders increasingly engaging grassroots groups across the country.