Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has claimed in a recent interview with Kameme FM that President William Ruto has been persistently attempting to contact him through a series of phone calls.
The revelation made the ongoing friction between the two leaders following Gachagua’s dramatic exit from the government.
During the interview, Gachagua stated that Ruto’s efforts to reach him began shortly after his impeachment in October 2024, a move that marked a significant shift in Kenyan politics.
“He has been bombarding my phone with calls, wanting to talk,” Gachagua revealed, suggesting a desire from the president to mend or address their strained relationship.
However, Gachagua did not elaborate on the content of these alleged conversations or whether he responded to Ruto’s overtures.
The context of these claims is rooted in a series of events that have defined Gachagua’s political trajectory since his ouster. After his impeachment, Gachagua was acquitted of all graft charges in May 2025, a development that has been seen as a vindication by his supporters.
Despite this, his relationship with Ruto remains tense, with Gachagua accusing the president of orchestrating his downfall and subsequently ignoring his pleas for dialogue.
Gachagua’s interview with Kameme FM also touched on broader themes of political reconciliation and the challenges of governance in Kenya. “I had been trying to reach out to him, but he has been ignoring me. Now he is trying to reach me, and I’m ignoring him too,” Gachagua said, referencing his own attempts to engage Ruto post-impeachment.
This back-and-forth of communication attempts highlights the complex dynamics at play within the ruling coalition and the personal animosities that have surfaced.
The timing of Gachagua’s revelations is significant, coming just before the first anniversary of the Gen Z-led anti-tax protests on June 25, 2025.
These protests, which forced Ruto to withdraw the 2024 Finance Bill and disband his Cabinet, were a turning point that exacerbated tensions between Ruto and Gachagua.
Gachagua’s narrative of being sidelined and now pursued by Ruto adds another layer to the political narrative as Kenya approaches this milestone.
However, the allegations have reignited discussions about the state of Kenya’s political leadership and the potential for reconciliation or further division.
Political analysts suggest that Ruto’s alleged calls could be an attempt to stabilize the political landscape ahead of upcoming elections or to address lingering issues from Gachagua’s tenure.
“Ruto has been everything,” Gachagua said in a previous statement, reflecting on the president’s dominance within their political alliance.
