Anger at Ruto and Gachagua bare knuckle attack

President William Ruto and his former deputy Rigathi Gachagua have renewed a bitter public war of words ahead of next year’s General Election, drawing sharp condemnation from religious leaders and clergy who warn that the inflammatory rhetoric threatens national peace.

Ruto has used much of his time during the Gusii region tour to attack his former deputy, repeatedly describing him as a tribalist, a bigot and a chief extortionist.

Without giving evidence, Ruto claimed Gachagua has used his position to milk money from his Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) aspirants who allegedly pay him millions of money to be allowed to speak in public rallies.

Ruto also said that Gachagua was a major stumbling block for the growth of upcoming leaders, claiming that he had gone ahead to attack any youthful leader who exhibits leadership qualities. But Ruto himself has hurled all manner of insults against young leaders, including labelling Linda Mwananchi Leader Edwin Sifuna as Mr Empty.

“Yule Mr chuki wa Texas eti wanasema tunalipa watu wakuje mkutano. Wewe ndio chief extortionist. Umehangaisha watu, kuwa extort, sijui kila Gavana akitaka kukuona anatoa millioni kumi ndio akuone. (The hater from Texas is demanding 10 million from Governors before they can see him), said Ruto in reference to Gachagua.

He added: "Wewe ni extortionist, umefukuzwa kazini kwa sababu ya extortion. (You are an extortionist who was impeached because of that). Wafanyibiashara hawana amani. Umehangaisha candidates wa chama yako sababu ya extortion (Business people have no peace and aspirants are also in trouble). Kila mtu akikuja kwako lazima atoe pesa alafu unatuambia eti watu wanalipwa pesa," said Ruto, when he also alleged that Gachagua extorts money from leaders before they address meetings.

While the President has used public forums to attack Gachagua, the DCP party leader has utilised his social media platforms to respond to his former boss whom he labelled as Mr Taxes, and Mr Six Months while accusing him of squandering taxes and denying the youth a chance to lead by ordering the execution of Gen Z during the 2024 demonstrations.

“Mr Taxes, think of and address the 55 million Kenyans you neglected and squandered their hard-earned taxes over the last 4 years! I hear you are claiming that young leaders are being denied a chance to lead! Interesting! Strange! Is that really you talking about young Kenyans? Who kills young people over fictitious and moribund terrorism cases?” he wrote.

He added: “Where is Rex Masai? Where is Kennedy Onyango? Where is Albert Ojwang? Where is Erick Mutisia? Where is Ibrahim Kamau? Where is Boniface Kariuki? Where are the over 200 young people killed during the 2024 Gen Z protests and the 2025 Saba Saba protests, Mr. William Ruto? Are they still the leaders of 2032?”

He accused the President of orchestrating a narrative of 41 against one to isolate the Kikuyu community by introducing the Usawa ni sawa political sloganeering claiming the clarion call was divisive and risked inciting Kenyans based on their ethnic backgrounds.

“Shall we remind you of your 41 vs. 1 narrative in 2007 and, now, your obnoxious USAWA NI SAWA fallacy? Mr. six Months, will you not go down in Kenya's history as the brutal and vicious leader who shed the blood of young Kenyans? What's your comparison? Dictator Idi Amin Dada, Mobutu Sese Seko, Siad Barre, Jean-Bédel Bokassa, Sani Abacha, Robert Mugabe or Omar al-Bashir? You have beaten all odds, bro!” he added.

The two leaders’ war of words rekindles their foul language they used against each other in March this year as they labelled each other as cold murderers, rapists, among other unpalatable words that were heavily castigated by the religious leaders, senior citizens and civil rights groups.

Ruto accused Gachagua of orchestrating a forged or manipulated will to misappropriate property and funds belonging to his brother Nderitu Gachagua's family with the President vowing that properties allegedly taken would be returned to the family.

“The guy who has an evil spirit of hatred, division and tribal can’t take Kenyans anywhere you have no opportunity to divide the people of this nation. He has no moral obligation to lecture Kenyans about theft of public resources since he went to the bed of his dying brother and amended his will to disinherit the widow and the orphans,” he said.

He added: “Some character who goes in pregnant small girls the age of his children and then he kills them and then he wants to talk to us about killing. You who kill small children after impregnating them you want to tell us about killing. Shame on you.

Gachagua later accused Ruto of stealing from Kenyans, and shamed the president’s body anatomy, claiming that he had grown emaciated because of scrutiny and accountability they were demanding from him on daily basis.

“How much is enough Mr Ruto? Despite all that you have taken, you are getting so emaciated. What is remaining is only those ears on his head, because he does not sleep. Hii mtu ako na ma bilioni ya pesa lakini halali na hatutawacha alale, (This man has billions but we will torment him and give him sleepless nights for the the next 15 months until he goes home to Sugoi," said Gachagua

 Ruto has also not spared Jubilee Party Leader Fred Matiang’i, also body shaming him that he is fat because of ‘eating too much’ and failing to watch his weight.

“Eti wanasema Ruto halali amekonda,  I'm intelligent enough to know when to cut down on weight, to concentrate on what I want to,   I’m disciplined enough to know how much to eat so that I can stay alert, nyinyi mmekula mpaka tumbo inapasuka mmekula mpaka kicha imevimba.

In a measured and calm response, Matiang’i noted that although he respects the presidency, he was perturbed by his remarks against opposition leaders, questioning why Ruto could be concerned about what they eat.

“Rais wetu mimi namheshimu, na naheshimu ofisi yake (I respect the president and his office). Ndio maana mimi sijaongea mambo yake mbeleni. Lakini leo ameanza sasa kututusi sisi, watu wote wa opposition I have remained silent but he is now using abusive language against us),” he said.

Religious leaders, including Kisumu Catholic Archbishop Maurice Muhatia castigated the political class over the increasing trend of using foul language at public meetings.

Muhatia, who is also the chair of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops, told national leaders to show respect for the people that they lead and the offices they hold and to desist from public insults.

“The young people listening to you are traumatized because in you is represented the collapse of their aspiration for leadership. The adults listening to you are embarrassed. You are a poor representation of our generation and we are struggling to identify with you. Not everything that crosses your mind must drop on your lips. Please exercise restraint. This country belongs to more than 50 million Kenyans and not only to yourselves,” he said.

The prelate said it was a disgrace for leaders to insult each other publicly and advised the political class to insult each other privately.

Separately, over 20 human rights and constitutional advocacy groups condemned the rising incidents of insults, intolerance and personal attacks among the political leadership in the country, saying the conduct has eroded the dignity of leadership in Kenya.

They argued that instead of setting a good example, the leaders are now irritating and embarrassing Kenyans through constant use of abusive language.

The activists say leaders, fully aware they are role models to both young and old, have abandoned basic values of decency and discipline.

“We demand that the President and all political leaders exercise language, conduct and leadership worthy of the offices they hold. Chapter 6 is not merely an ornamental chapter of the constitution, but a guiding light for our leaders on their conduct in their political offices,” Sheila Masinde, an activist, said.

She added:  “The presidency is not a personal platform. It is a constitutional trust. Kenyans require political hygiene from the top and across all political actors.