By Brian Kiprono - Reporter
Kenya, August 14, 2026 - Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has accused President William Ruto of using attacks on retired President Uhuru Kenyatta to shift public attention from the performance of his government.
Speaking in Naivasha, Nakuru County, on Friday, Gachagua said Kenyans should instead focus on assessing the Kenya Kwanza administration's record after four years in office.
“William Ruto, in his usual style, tried to divert the attention of Kenyans by attacking President Uhuru Kenyatta so that Kenyans can abandon that debate and start defending Uhuru and castigating him,” Gachagua said.
The Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader challenged Ruto to defend his record rather than revive political attacks against his predecessor.
“We want to tell you, you cannot divert the attention of Kenyans from the discussion on your performance for four years, and that debate must go on,” he said.
Gachagua also positioned himself as Ruto's political opponent ahead of the 2027 General Election, telling the President to leave Uhuru, who is no longer in active politics, out of the contest.
“Leave President Uhuru Kenyatta alone; he is retired and face your competitor Rigathi Gachagua. That is the man you must face,” he said.
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His remarks came days after Ruto criticised Uhuru's record in office, claiming his predecessor had failed to deliver on issues including affordable housing, universal healthcare and education.
“When you look at their sponsor, didn't he fail to deliver on Affordable Housing, Universal Healthcare Coverage, and Education? Now he has gone to sponsor his protegees to come and compete with me,” Ruto said.
“I will defeat them early in the morning because they have no plan, agenda, policies, or vision,” he added.
Gachagua spoke as his DCP stepped up its grassroots mobilisation in Nakuru, with the party opening a new office in Naivasha before engagements in Gilgil and Nakuru town.
The tour is part of the party's wider effort to establish local structures and build support ahead of the 2027 elections.