Gachagua hits at Ruto's priorities amid fuel crisis

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has slammed President William Ruto and his administration over the ongoing fuel crisis, matatu sector disruptions and rising cost of living, accusing the government of failing to respond to mounting public pressure.

Speaking during a press briefing in the United Kingdom, Gachagua said that instead of Ruto staying in the country to address these issues, he is prioritising luxurious international travel.

He said Kenyans were facing severe economic strain as fuel prices continued to drive up transport costs, food prices and inflation across the country. “Kenyans are saying that they have reached an elastic limit and a breaking point,” he said.

He linked the two-day matatu strike and wider transport disruptions to high fuel costs, arguing that public service vehicle operators have been pushed into financial pressure while commuters continue to suffer fare hikes and unreliable services.

“The one-week strike suspension is just a decoy. There will be no negotiations,” Gachagua claimed, urging transport operators to maintain pressure until their concerns are addressed.

Gachagua also raised concerns over the government-to-government (G-to-G) fuel import arrangement, arguing that it has failed to stabilize fuel prices as intended. 

He claimed the system has created inefficiencies in the petroleum sector and opened space for conflict of interest, though he did not provide evidence to support the allegations.

In a striking remark on Kenya’s fuel import system, Gachagua further claimed that Kenyan fuel pricing and supply arrangements are not governed by the internationally recognized maritime passage system known as the Strait of Hormuz framework, suggesting instead that the structure of Kenya’s fuel procurement is shaped by domestic, political and commercial arrangements rather than transparent global oil routing mechanisms. 

The DCP leader argued that this disconnect contributes to inefficiencies and inflated costs in the supply chain, though he did not provide detailed evidence to support the claim.

On the Turkana oil resources, he said the country has not benefited meaningfully from its petroleum potential despite years of expectations that domestic production would ease fuel price pressures.

Gachagua also questioned Ruto’s leadership priorities, accusing him of focusing too much on international travel and conferences while domestic economic challenges remain unresolved.

“Instead of William Ruto sitting down in the office to work, he is hopping from one flight to the next attending international conferences that can be handled by officials in ministries. Please swallow your pride and listen to the people of Kenya,” he said.

His remarks come amid heightened political tension over fuel prices and transport disruptions that have affected mobility, business operations and household budgets across the country.

In response, the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) accused opposition leaders of politicizing the fuel crisis and transport challenges for political gain rather than supporting government efforts to stabilize the situation.

Addressing a press briefing, UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar said the fuel price increases were largely driven by global geopolitical tensions and supply chain disruptions linked to conflict in the Middle East.

“This is not a crisis of Kenya’s making,” Omar said, adding that comparisons with neighbouring countries were misleading due to different tax structures and market conditions.

He defended the government-to-government fuel import arrangement and subsidy mechanisms, saying they had helped cushion consumers from even higher global oil prices.

“The interventions in place have helped prevent even more severe price increases,” he said.

Omar maintained that the government remains focused on stabilizing the energy sector while engaging stakeholders in the transport sector to address ongoing disruptions linked to matatu sector tensions.