Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has criticised President William Ruto over his recent tour of Bomet County, accusing the Kenya Kwanza administration of failing to deliver on development promises made to residents.
Gachagua claimed Ruto’s visit was prompted by growing dissatisfaction among residents who, he said, felt they had not benefited from the government despite overwhelmingly supporting the President during the 2022 elections.
“Mr. William Ruto visited Bomet County yesterday to quell the public dissatisfaction that his lying and brutal regime had nothing for the residents and that he obtained their votes by false pretenses,” Gachagua said.
He argued that the President’s visit did little to address concerns over development, claiming there were no new national government projects for Ruto to launch, commission or inspect.
According to Gachagua, the President instead visited projects associated with the county government, including the Bomet County Assembly and the Mother and Child Hospital.
“To show a semblance of some development, he could only visit projects by the County Government, namely the County Assembly of Bomet and the Mother and Child Hospital, both projects of the county,” he said.
Gachagua also took issue with Ruto’s emotional response after encountering a young girl who was reportedly concerned about the hardships facing her mother.
He questioned why the President would express emotion over challenges he attributed to the government’s policies.
“But who has deliberately caused these troubles and pain? Who has caused the tears on the young girl? Isn't it Mr. William Ruto?” Gachagua posed.
The former deputy president further criticised economic charters signed between the national government and counties, including Bomet and Kericho, claiming they had not translated into tangible benefits for residents.
He alleged that the agreements were unlikely to be implemented within the remaining period of Ruto’s presidency.
Gachagua also claimed that residents were mobilised to attend the President’s meetings through financial handouts, comparing the situation unfavourably with what he described as the “Olkalou standards”.
His remarks come as Ruto continues efforts to consolidate support in the Rift Valley, a region that played a significant role in his 2022 presidential victory.
Gachagua, who has emerged as one of Ruto’s most vocal critics since his removal from office, ended his statement by challenging the President to address the economic difficulties facing Kenyans.
“Fix the Country Mr. William Ruto!” he said, adding, “God Save Kenya.”