Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has launched a scathing attack on President William Ruto, describing him as “extremely confused” in handling the ongoing Gen Z-led protests in Kenya. Speaking during a diaspora tour in Dracut, Massachusetts, on Tuesday, Gachagua accused the Head of State of shifting blame rather than addressing the core concerns raised by young Kenyans.
Gachagua criticized President Ruto for offering inconsistent explanations about the origin of the Gen Z movement, which erupted in 2024 in protest against corruption, economic hardship, and abductions. “When the Gen Z protests began, he called it an attempted coup. Then he blamed NGOs, the Ford Foundation, the church, the opposition, and most recently, the parents. William Ruto, can you make up your mind on what ails the country?” Gachagua posed.
The former deputy president, now the leader of the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), dismissed allegations from government-allied leaders that he is inciting the protests. He asserted that the administration was avoiding accountability by politicizing a legitimate youth movement.
“Instead of listening to Gen Z on the issues they are highlighting, such as abductions, the President says these young people have been incited by Riggy G and former President Uhuru Kenyatta. It seems the President is out of touch with the real problems in Kenya—he has given seven different reasons so far,” said Gachagua.
He further claimed that the accusations were part of a broader campaign to delegitimize the Gen Z movement, which has grown into a powerful civic force demanding transparency, economic reforms, and better governance.
Gachagua’s wife, Dorcas Rigathi, also responded to critics who accused her of influencing his political decisions. “They say I have ‘sat on him’. How can I sit on someone who is causing sleepless nights for the whole country?” she retorted.
As Gachagua continues his U.S. engagements, his remarks have added fuel to an already heated political climate back home, where youth-led activism continues to pressure the Ruto administration for change.
