Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has responded to President William Ruto over allegations that some people want to overthrow his government.
Speaking in a press conference on Tuesday, July 9, 2025, the former DP stated that he and the citizens want him to make him a one-term president through the ballot.
“We want to advise you that the one term movement is not getting you out of power outside the constitution
No body wants you out of power through unconstitutional means. There is no leader here who is planning a coup and the leaders in this country and indeed 95% of the Kenyan population want to humiliate you at the ballot . They will relish that moment,” said Gachagua.
Gachagua Denies Claims of Overthrowing Ruto’s Government
Additionally, the former Deputy President urged President William Ruto to stop using the narrative that people want to overthrow him, saying he is using it as an excuse to persecute leaders and citizens opposing his government using terrorism laws.
“Stop creating this narrative. This narrative is to enable you to use anti-terrorism laws to persecute leaders and to persecute the Kikuyu community,” the former Deputy President alleged.
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At the same time, Gachagua issued several demands to President Ruto, including the abolition of the housing levy, to restore the confidence of the Kenyan people.
“If you want calm, abolish the housing levy and restore dignity to the payslip. I’ve heard you say that you cannot give jobs to young people. Please restore the dignity of the payslip and rebuild the capacity of the middle class. The middle class will create jobs for these young people. Stop killing and profiling the youth. Listen to them. Stop the abductions and extrajudicial killings,” Gachagua said.
The former Deputy President further accused the Head of State of being behind the violence witnessed in several parts of the country, where numerous businesses were looted.
He alleged that President Ruto collaborated with several governors and MPs to hire goons who looted shops and then blamed it on innocent protesters and those opposed to his leadership, including political leaders allied to him.
Ruto Hits Back at Saba Saba Protesters
Gachagua’s remarks come hours after President William Ruto hit out at demonstrators and his critics who took to the streets during the Saba Saba protests, accusing them of trying to overthrow his government
Ruto while speaking during the inspection of a police housing project in Dagoretti North on Wednesday July 9, said Kenya is a democratic nation.
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He emphasized that leadership will not change through violence and such actions will not be tolerated here. “That will not happen in this country,” he said.
“There are people inciting young people to destroy property and burn businesses, claiming it’s because they don’t have jobs,” Ruto said. “Let me ask—if a supermarket is burned down, will that create jobs?”
“We will not allow our country to be destroyed by retrogressive elements that are seeking shortcuts to rise to power. Enough is enough!”
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