Rift between Gachagua and Ruto widens as he calls out Noordin Haji over protest deaths

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has opened up about the moment that marked the end of his political partnership with President William Ruto, pointing to a deep disagreement over the government’s handling of abductions and killings of young Kenyans.

Speaking during a US diaspora engagement on Sunday, 10 August 2025, Gachagua said his press conference in Mombasa on 26 June 2024 was the defining point that severed their working relationship for good.

He explained that although he and Ruto had worked together after being elected, they had many disagreements over issues such as corruption, theft, and misuse of public funds.

However, he stressed that the abductions and killings of Generation Z protesters were the final straw that made it impossible for him to continue standing with the president.

Gachagua recalled that on 25 June 2024, while still serving as deputy president, he received information about orders to kill young people who were taking part in protests.

The next day, he travelled to Mombasa and called a press conference where he publicly condemned the violence, making it clear that such actions were unacceptable.

According to him, that bold statement effectively ended their communication, and from that day onward, he and Ruto never spoke again.

The press conference took place in the middle of nationwide protests against the controversial Finance Bill, which proposed higher taxes and sparked widespread anger.

During the address, Gachagua went further by directly criticising the National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director-General Noordin Haji, accusing him of failing in his duty to provide the president with proper advice that could have prevented the violence and loss of life.

He said Haji should take responsibility for what happened and resign.

These remarks drew sharp reactions from different quarters, with some leaders calling it a serious security breach while others saw it as much-needed truth-telling in the face of government excesses.

Since then, the gap between Gachagua and Ruto has only widened, with the former deputy president frequently criticising the administration’s approach to corruption, public funds management, and national security.

His recent comments in the US reinforced his firm position that the abductions, torture, and killings of young Kenyans remain one of the most serious injustices under the current government.

He said it was an issue that he, and many citizens, could not and would not ignore. Gachagua’s words show that the fallout was not just political but also deeply personal, rooted in what he describes as a moral stand against the abuse of state power.