He offered me Sh2bn to resign -Gachagua hits back at Ruto over Sh10bn bribery claims
The former DP went on to claim that President Ruto had, in fact, offered him Sh2 billion to step down from his role, citing a conversation with a senior government official who allegedly relayed the President’s offer.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has hit back at President William Ruto over claims that he demanded Sh10 billion to rally political support for him in the Mt Kenya region.
Speaking during an interview with KTN on Monday, Gachagua questioned the credibility of the allegations, citing inconsistencies in the reported figures from Ruto’s close allies.
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“The President should make up his mind about how much money I’m supposed to have asked for. His chief propagandist, Dennis Itumbi, claimed I asked for Sh6.5 billion. His Mr Fix-It, Kimani Ichung’wah, said it was Sh8 billion. Then Ruto himself said Sh10 billion. Can they sit down and agree on the figure? It’s all just a narrative he wanted to sell in the Mountain,” said Gachagua.
He dismissed the bribery accusations, terming them a political fabrication aimed at justifying his removal from office.
“There is no such thing. It was simply a narrative he wanted to spread in Mt Kenya to explain why he broke his promise not to humiliate his deputy. He went beyond humiliation—he got rid of me.”
Gachagua further questioned why the alleged bribery did not feature during the impeachment process.
“If it were true, it would have been included in the impeachment proceedings. But it wasn’t. Since 18 October, the President had never mentioned it—until he visited the Mountain.”
The former DP went on to claim that President Ruto had, in fact, offered him Sh2 billion to step down from his role, citing a conversation with a senior government official who allegedly relayed the President’s offer.
“He sent a very senior government officer to talk to me when we disagreed. He said, ‘I can’t continue with you. I’d like you to resign, and if you don’t, I’ll have you impeached. Rather than leave empty-handed—and considering you supported me—I’ll give you something to start off. Perhaps Sh1.5 to Sh2 billion.’ I told him to go to hell. I’m not for sale. I’m priceless.”
Gachagua said he rejected the offer, asserting that he was already financially secure and had played a key role in funding Ruto’s campaign.
“That kind of money—I already have. You know how much I funded your campaign. I am not the kind of man to be handed Sh2 billion. You know the scale of business I’m involved in.”
He also disclosed that he recorded the conversation in which the offer was made. “I recorded that conversation. I have that recording.”
According to Gachagua, the Sh10 billion narrative was crafted to paint him as a selfish and manipulative figure within the Mt Kenya region.
“It was designed to portray me as greedy. If I had actually blackmailed the President, it would have been the first accusation in the impeachment proceedings—but it wasn’t mentioned.”
Gachagua also criticised President Ruto’s recent political activities in Mt Kenya, describing them as rallies disguised as development tours.
“It’s very unfortunate to respond to such ridiculous claims. The President visited the Mountain for political purposes, not development. He held rallies, launched projects he had already launched, and claimed he was inspecting them. He’s not an engineer, a surveyor, or an architect. He was making the same promises he’s made since his election.”
He claimed Ruto’s recent visits were aimed at pacifying Mt Kenya voters, who he said feel betrayed.
“He needed to explain his betrayal to the people—people who trusted and supported him without an MoU or political party. And he betrayed them.”
Gachagua also pointed to the inconsistencies in Ruto’s public criticisms of him across different regions.
“In Western Kenya, he said I was incompetent and tribal. In North Eastern, he called me divisive. In Nyanza, I was primitive and corrupt. But when he came to the Mountain, he didn’t say I was tribal or incompetent—because he knows he can’t. Instead, he said I was asking for Sh10 billion.”
He concluded by claiming that Ruto attempted to win over grassroots support in his home turf by paying off a group of women dancers from Mathira, Nyeri County, whom Gachagua had mobilised for the 2022 campaign.
“He met the women, gave each of them Sh8,000—totalling Sh8 million—and Sh2 million towards a funeral. The women called me and said, ‘This man is lying. We know you.’ During the 2022 elections, he picked me as his running mate because of my mobilisation skills. I am not a poor man. I significantly funded his campaign and am not the kind of man to go asking him for money.”
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