Speaking on March 11 during UDA-ODM joint PG meeting, President Ruto urged Kenyans to ignore the opposition.
He dismissed them as leaders who spread negativity without offering solutions. Ruto went further, accusing them of being empty talkers with no policies or serious plans.
“I want to tell Kenyans to ignore these people. They have no agenda, no policies, and not even brains to lead this country forward,” Ruto stated at the event.
The remarks sparked sharp criticism, and on September 20, while addressing a rally in Machakos County, Rigathi Gachagua hit back.
The Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader accused President Ruto of insulting Kenyans who support the opposition.
“I heard him saying we don’t have brains. He is right in one way. We don’t have the kind of brains used to loot public resources. We don’t have the brains to steal from Kenyans. If that is what he means, then yes, we lack those brains,” Gachagua said.
He went on to add that the opposition cannot be part of policies that harm citizens.
“We don’t have the brains to justify killings or to silence young people who are fighting for their future,” he told the crowd, receiving cheers from supporters.
Gachagua also accused President Ruto of disrespecting the people of Ukambani. He linked this to the sudden removal of John Mativo as Managing Director of the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO).
Mativo was replaced by Kipkemoi Kibias on September 19, just a day before the President toured Machakos.
According to Gachagua, the move was meant to sideline leaders from Ukambani and reward political allies.
“It is disrespectful for the President to sack a capable leader from this community and immediately replace him with someone from his own backyard. Such actions show open contempt for the people of Ukambani,” he said.
