Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has criticised President William Ruto over his emotional response to a young girl during a visit to Bomet, saying tears will not solve the economic hardships facing Kenyans.
Ruto became emotional during his Bomet tour after a young girl spoke about difficulties facing her family. Gachagua subsequently questioned the President’s response, arguing that the government should address the conditions that have left families struggling.
“He only shed tears about a young girl crying over the hardships her mother is facing,” Gachagua said.
“But who has deliberately caused these troubles and pain? Who has caused the tears on the young girl? Isn’t it Mr William Ruto?”
Gachagua said Kenyans would no longer be persuaded by emotional displays when assessing the government’s performance.
“Such tears will no longer move Kenyans into voting a wrong person! Fix the Country Mr William Ruto!” he said.
Gachagua attacks Ruto’s Bomet record
Gachagua also criticised Ruto over the development record he presented during his visit to Bomet, saying residents had received promises without sufficient delivery.
“The National Government has done nothing for the people of Bomet County; just false promises,” Gachagua said.
Ruto’s Bomet programme included the inspection and commissioning of development projects, including the Dr Joyce Laboso Mother and Child Hospital, as well as engagements around infrastructure and public services.
Gachagua disputed the significance of the projects highlighted during the visit, arguing that some of the facilities were county-government initiatives.
“To show a semblance of some development, he could only visit projects by the County Government, namely the County Assembly of Bomet and the Mother and Child Hospital, both projects of the county,” he said.
Gachagua’s comments were not accompanied by evidence establishing that the national government had undertaken no projects in Bomet.
Economic charters questioned
The former deputy president also criticised the implementation of economic development agreements between the national government and counties.
He singled out Bomet and Kericho, alleging that the economic charters signed with the two counties had not been implemented.
“The Economic Charters signed between him and the counties of Kericho and Bomet, like the rest of the counties, are gathering dust at the UDA headquarters,” Gachagua said.
He further claimed that the agreements could not be implemented within what he described as the remaining 11 months of Ruto’s presidency.
Gachagua did not provide evidence in his statement to support his claim about the location of the agreements or their implementation status.
Claim over rally handouts
Gachagua also alleged that money was distributed to mobilise residents to attend Ruto’s meetings in Bomet and Kericho.
“Nevertheless, the residents of Bomet and Kericho benefited from the millions of handouts unleashed to mobilize crowds to attend his meetings,” he said.
He did not provide details of the alleged payments or supporting evidence.
Gachagua nevertheless argued that residents had not received value commensurate with the promises made to them.
“However, by Olkalou standards, they were outrightly shortchanged,” he said.
Ruto and Gachagua clash over government record
The remarks add to Gachagua’s criticism of the Ruto administration and place the President’s emotional moment in Bomet at the centre of a wider political dispute over the government’s economic record and development promises.
Ruto’s tour highlighted government projects and programmes in Bomet and Kericho, while Gachagua has questioned whether the initiatives amount to meaningful delivery on commitments made to residents.
The allegations concerning economic charters, alleged handouts and the ownership and impact of particular projects are Gachagua’s claims and have not been independently established in his statement.
No response from Ruto or the national government to Gachagua’s specific allegations was included in the statement.
