Gachagua tears into Ruto over youth leadership remarks, lists victims of protest killings

In a statement shared on X, the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader questioned the President’s moral standing to speak on behalf of young Kenyans, citing deaths and disappearances linked to anti-government protests over the last two years.

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has accused President William Ruto of hypocrisy following the Head of State’s reported remarks that young leaders are being denied a chance to lead.

In a statement shared on X, the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader questioned the President’s moral standing to speak on behalf of young Kenyans, citing deaths and disappearances linked to anti-government protests over the last two years.

“Is that really you talking about young Kenyans?” Gachagua posed, before reeling off the names of young people who died during or after their encounters with police.

“Where is Rex Masai? Where is Kennedy Onyango? Where is Albert Ojwang? Where is Erick Mutisia? Where is Ibrahim Kamau? Where is Boniface Kariuki?” the statement read.

Gachagua further claimed that more than 200 young people were killed during the 2024 Gen Z protests and the 2025 Saba Saba demonstrations, asking whether the victims were “still the leaders of 2032.”

Opening his statement with the moniker “Mr. Taxes,” the former DP accused the President of neglecting Kenyans and squandering their taxes over the last four years.

Gachagua also invoked the 2007/2008 post-election violence, referencing the Kiambaa church fire in Eldoret in which dozens of people, including children, were burned to death, and alleged that the president bore responsibility.

“Weren’t they supposed to be the leaders of tomorrow? Has it escaped your memory? Does it not prick your conscience?” he posed.

President Ruto was among six Kenyans charged at the International Criminal Court (ICC) over the post-election violence. The case against him was terminated in April 2016, with judges citing insufficient evidence, and he has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

Gachagua also took aim at the “41 vs. 1” political narrative of the 2007 campaigns and what he described as the President’s “Usawa ni Sawa fallacy.”

The former DP went on to accuse the government of orchestrating abductions of young people and of charging protesters with what he termed trumped-up terrorism offences.

He also referenced the President’s July 2025 directive that police shoot in the legs protesters who attack police stations and property, a remark that drew widespread condemnation from rights groups.

“You have variously and severally talked about kusafirisha watu! Who is next on the safari?” Gachagua wrote.

In a pointed comparison, he likened the President to some of Africa’s most notorious former rulers, among them Idi Amin, Mobutu Sese Seko, Siad Barre, Jean-Bédel Bokassa, Sani Abacha, Robert Mugabe and Omar al-Bashir.

“Tell us more lies tomorrow!” he concluded.