President Ruto slams shareholding claims that sank Rigathi Gachagua! President William Ruto strongly condemned the “repugnant” shareholding remarks that led to the impeachment of his Deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, marking the first time the President has directly addressed the controversial issue.
The remarks, which suggested that Kenya’s resources should be distributed based on electoral support, have sparked national debate and ultimately contributed to Gachagua’s downfall.
The High Court has since suspended Gachagua’s replacement, with a hearing scheduled for Thursday to review the matter further.
President Ruto rejected the notion of dividing the country’s resources
During his speech at the Mashujaa Day celebrations in Kwale, Ruto firmly rejected the notion of dividing the country’s resources according to voting patterns or political loyalty.
He emphasized that every Kenyan citizen is an equal and integral member of the nation’s political community, and therefore entitled to a just and equitable share of national development benefits.
“Every citizen of Kenya is a full and equal member of our political community, entitled to make a contribution to nation-building, and with an inalienable right to a full, just, and fair share of all the benefits that accrue from our development,” Ruto said.
His remarks were seen as a direct rebuttal to Gachagua’s earlier claims, which had likened Kenya to a company where citizens hold shares based on their political affiliations.
The President also highlighted that no system of resource allocation that discriminates or diminishes the rights of one group while unfairly enlarging the privileges of another would be acceptable. “No proposition to discriminate or to unjustly diminish one while enlarging another’s rights is admissible.
Therefore, any formula seeking to exclude, alienate, or disenfranchise any person, group, or community for any reason is repugnant to the very essence of our nationhood,” Ruto added.
The shareholding remarks, at the heart of the impeachment motion against Gachagua, were listed as the primary charge among the eleven accusations that led to his ouster.
Gachagua had infamously suggested that government resources should be distributed in a way that benefits regions and individuals based on their support for the ruling party, sparking outrage among those who viewed the comments as divisive and contrary to Kenya’s principles of unity and equality.
A resounding 54 out of 67 senators voted to uphold the charge, highlighting the widespread condemnation of Gachagua’s remarks. Many saw the Deputy President’s statements as undermining national unity by proposing a resource distribution formula that would alienate opposition strongholds and prioritize regions that voted for the ruling Kenya Kwanza coalition.
In his defence during impeachment proceedings, Gachagua remained unrepentant, defending his remarks by citing a secret pre-election agreement within the Kenya Kwanza coalition. According to Gachagua, this agreement divvied up government roles and resources among coalition members based on their political contributions and support during the election period.
This defense, however, did little to sway MPs, many of whom viewed the remarks as inflammatory and detrimental to the nation’s cohesion.
Despite the political storm surrounding his impeachment, Gachagua’s political future remains uncertain as the High Court has temporarily suspended his replacement, pending a hearing to determine the legality of the impeachment process. Many political analysts believe that this legal intervention offers Gachagua a lifeline, though the outcome of the court proceedings remains to be seen.
President Ruto’s speech, meanwhile, was seen as a critical moment in the unfolding drama, as it marked his first public comment on Gachagua’s impeachment.
His words sent a clear message that the government would not tolerate any rhetoric or policies that could undermine Kenya’s hard-earned unity and nationhood. Ruto’s firm stance reinforced his commitment to an inclusive and equitable governance model that serves all citizens equally, regardless of their political affiliation or voting record.
The fallout from Gachagua’s impeachment continues to reverberate across Kenya’s political landscape, with many awaiting the High Court’s decision and watching closely to see how this will impact the future of both Gachagua and the ruling coalition.
For now, President Ruto has made his position clear: Kenya’s resources are for all its people, and any attempt to divide the country along political lines is unacceptable.
