Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua sharply rebuked President William Ruto for lowering the presidency's dignity by discussing personal lives instead of pressing national issues. While receiving Millicent Omanga at his party headquarters, he alleged corruption in Nairobi's multibillion-shilling Railway City project.
Rigathi Gachagua, Kenya's former deputy president, spoke at his party headquarters while receiving former nominated Senator Millicent Omanga. He accused President William Ruto of undermining the presidency's dignity by addressing leaders' personal lives rather than critical issues like infrastructure, national security, and deteriorating health services. “You have no need to discuss someone's personal life or whether they have a wife or not. You should focus on weighty matters like infrastructure, national security, and the poor state of health services. That's what Kenyans want to hear from the head of state,” Gachagua said. The remarks responded to Ruto's recent speeches targeting critics on morals, physical appearance, and privacy. Gachagua further alleged corruption in the Railway City project in Nairobi. He claimed China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), which submitted the lowest bid, was denied the contract for refusing a Sh7 billion bribe. Instead, China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) received it for Sh30 billion, inflating costs by billions of taxpayer shillings. “We would like to inform the British Embassy in Nairobi that they should cancel that project and the Railway City construction tender,” he stated. He alleged other Chinese firms were rejected for declining bribes, with Ruto directing that only CRBC secure contracts. Gachagua also mocked Ruto's statements, saying, “We have no problem with your ears, we want them bigger so you can listen to the people.” He highlighted challenges including national debt, a collapsing health sector, and poor infrastructure.