Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has unleashed a scathing attack on the current administration, claiming that the resurgence of illicit alcohol in Central Kenya is a calculated plan to undermine the region’s youth and sabotage voter turnout.
Speaking at an event in Naivasha on Sunday, Gachagua expressed his deep concern over the return of harmful brews that he claims were eradicated during his tenure in office.
“Since I was removed from office, all the bad alcohol has been reintroduced to the mountain to destroy our people and reduce voter numbers,” Gachagua decried. He accused local chiefs of being complicit, asserting they have received orders to ignore the brewing crisis. “The youth are being targeted,” he added, painting a bleak picture of the social fabric in the region.
Gachagua, who once led campaigns against illicit alcohol, noted that the rise of these brews has worsened both the economic and social climates of Central Kenya. He holds the current government accountable for neglecting the fight against this menace, stating they are failing the constituents who initially voted them into office.
Turning his ire towards President William Ruto, Gachagua condemned the decision to postpone a planned trip to Central Kenya in January, suggesting that the President is deliberately avoiding the region to escape mounting discontent. “He says he will come to the mountain next year, thinking people’s anger will subside. But is the anger going down or rising?” he questioned sharply.
He urged the President to face local residents and address their grievances directly: “If you are afraid of their anger, you will never come.”
Gachagua’s criticisms extend beyond the issue of illicit alcohol. He lamented the government’s handling of economic challenges, zeroing in on controversial policies such as the housing levy and NHIF reforms. “I was kicked out of government because I spoke the truth,” he declared. “This government is founded on lies, and I couldn’t fit in.”
Since his ousting last November, Gachagua has emerged as a vocal critic of the administration, accusing it of abandoning its fundamental promises to the Kenyan people.
