Gachagua dismisses Ruto's 'coup plot' claim, blames state for violent protest

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua addresses the Press at his Karen residence, Nairobi, on July 9, 2025. [Benard Orwongo, Standard]

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has dismissed President William Ruto’s allegation that the opposition is plotting to oust him from power using illegal means including protests.

Gachagua reiterated that the opposition will battle it out with the President at the ballot come the 2027 General Election.

The former DP accused the Head of State of manifesting uncontrolled anger and doing little to pacify the enraged electorate.

“This morning, I saw Ruto quivering and wailing in uncontrollable anger. Mr Ruto, excessive anger is not a solution. I want to advise you to stop being angry. That won’t help,” said Gachagua.

“The people of Kenya are more angry than you. They are angry because of over taxation, wanton corruption, abductions, extrajudicial killings, ethnic profiling, and other ills bedeviling your administration,” he added.

He said the ‘Wantam’ (one-term) chant has been turned around by those in government to justify ethnic discrimination and persecution of Kenyans allied to the opposition, and to allow the application of the Terrorism Act against suspects.

“Mr President, nobody wants to overthrow your government. Nobody wants you out of power through unconstitutional means. We want to remove you from the State House through the ballot in 2027,” he said.

“Please relax, and serve your one term…95 per cent of Kenyans want to humiliate you at the ballot. They’ll relish that moment,” he added.

Speaking during an inspection tour of a police housing project at Kilimani Police Station in Nairobi, on Wednesday, President Ruto dared the opposition leaders to continue with the plans to oust him from power and warned of unspecified consequences.

“I want to tell those characters saying they can change this administration using violence and unlawful means before 2027, let them try," Ruto said.

Further, in a televised address to the nation, Gachagua alleged the presence of state sponsored militias embedded with the police during Saba Saba anniversary protests on Monday.

The team, Gachagua claimed, was supported by a 101-man-strong elite killer squad under the National Intelligence Service but which operated in Subaru vehicles popular with detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.

He said the violence and destruction of property worth millions was unfairly targeting the Kikuyu community while his allies have been blamed in what he termed as ‘selective justice’.

Former Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi, Senators Seki Lenku and Kamau Murango, and MPs Onesmus Ngogoyo, and John Kaguchia are among those allegedly targeted for arrest over violent protests in various areas including Meru, Nyeri, Kitengela and Ngong.