DRACUT, MASSACHUSETTS — DCP party leader and former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua has launched a sharp attack on President William Ruto, calling him “extremely confused” over his handling of the Gen Z protest movement and accusing him rather than addressing the country’s core issues. Speaking during a diaspora forum in the United States on Tuesday, Gachagua criticized President Ruto’s shifting explanations for the nationwide youth-led protests that began in 2024.
“He is a very confused person, extremely confused,” Rigathi Gachagua said. “When the Gen Z protests began, he called it an attempted coup. Then he blamed NGOs, the Ford Foundation, the opposition, the church, and now he says it’s poor parenting. William Ruto, can you make up your mind on what ails the country?”
Rigathi Gachagua’s comments come just days after President Ruto told parents that raising their children is not the job of the police, a remark that sparked public backlash.
Back in Kenya, some government-allied leaders have accused Gachagua of fueling unrest for political gain. The former deputy president, now leader of the Democracy for Citizens Party, dismissed those allegations as distractions meant to shift public attention away from the real grievances voiced by young people.
“Instead of addressing the issues Gen Z is raising like abductions the President blames me and former President Uhuru Kenyatta. He has already given seven different explanations. That shows he’s not in touch with what is happening in Kenya,” Gachagua said.
Rigathi Gachagua denied claims of incitement and said the government is using scapegoats to avoid facing criticism from its citizens.
“This is just a way for the President to avoid taking responsibility,” Rigathi Gachagua added. “He refuses to acknowledge that his leadership is not working.”
Meanwhile, Dorcas Rigathi, his spouse, also responded to criticisms targeting her. Speaking in defense of her husband, she said, “They say I have ‘sat on him.’ How can I sit on someone who is causing sleepless nights for the whole country?”
Rigathi Gachagua’s U.S. trip includes stops across multiple states where he is meeting Kenyan diaspora groups to discuss governance and the state of affairs back home.
The Gen Z-led demonstrations, which began over the Finance Bill 2024, have since evolved into a broader movement demanding transparency, police accountability, and better public services. The government’s response has included arrests, internet disruptions, and conflicting explanations from top officials.
No official communication has been issued from State House in response to Gachagua’s latest statements.
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