Gachagua Accuses President Ruto of Betrayal, Says Kenya Kwanza Has Become a ‘Mongrel Government
He called on Kenyans to reject what he called betrayal and rally behind a movement that will defend democracy and ensure leaders remain accountable to the people.
Former Deputy President: Rigathi Gachagua. Photo Courtesy: BBC
By Judith Waka
August 11, 2026
NAIROBI
Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has launched a scathing attack on President William Ruto, accusing him of betraying the trust Kenyans bestowed on him four years ago and eroding the country’s democratic gains.
Speaking on Saturday during a DCP party event, Gachagua said the Ruto administration has abandoned the ideals upon which it was elected and has instead destroyed multiparty democracy by swallowing opposition parties.
“Four years later today, Mister William Ruto has betrayed the trust bestowed on him by the people of Kenya,” Gachagua said in his address from the podium branded with the DCP logo written “Democracy for the Citizens Party – DCP, Skiza Wakenya”.
He said the President has also betrayed the foundations laid by previous administrations under various development blueprints such as Vision 2030, which were meant to steer Kenya towards middle-income status.
“He has betrayed the fruits at the foundation of our nation that have been viewed by previous administrations under the various development blueprints such as Vision 2030. He has eroded the democratic gains of multipartism and swallowed political parties under the opposition,” Gachagua stated.
Gachagua reminded the crowd how Ruto himself once complained about the state of government when he was Deputy President, questioning who was in government and who was in opposition during the handshake era.
“As he once wandered as deputy president, who is government and who is opposition. He then said it was a mongrel of a government. Today we have a mongrel of a government,” he said to applause from supporters.
The former second-in-command said Kenya is currently facing a crisis of identity where the opposition has been weakened and co-opted, leaving Kenyans without a strong voice to check the government.
According to Gachagua, the broad-based government arrangement that has seen members of the opposition join the executive has created confusion and killed accountability, with Kenyans no longer able to distinguish between government and opposition.
He said his DCP party, whose symbol is an ear with the slogan “Skiza Wakenya” (Listen to Kenyans), will offer an alternative voice and will be keen on restoring constitutionalism, rule of law and respect for political parties.
Gachagua, who was impeached in October 2024, has since rebranded himself as a fierce critic of the Ruto administration and has been traversing the country to popularize his new party ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The DCP leader said time has come for Kenyans to reflect on whether the promises made in 2022 have been fulfilled, citing the high cost of living, punitive taxation and what he termed as state capture.
He called on Kenyans to reject what he called betrayal and rally behind a movement that will defend democracy and ensure leaders remain accountable to the people.
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