By Staff Reporter Baker
NAIROBI — Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua has told Deputy President Kithure Kindiki to remain within President William Ruto’s political camp and resolve any differences there instead of involving him.
Gachagua made the remarks on Sunday, August 9, 2026, while addressing supporters, as he revisited his strained relationship with Kindiki during their time serving in the Kenya Kwanza administration.
The former Deputy President questioned Kindiki’s claim that he had respected him while they served in government together and accused the Deputy President of undermining his efforts to combat illicit alcohol.
Gachagua said Kindiki should deal with any political disagreements he has within President Ruto’s administration rather than seeking his intervention.
“So wewe hata kama umepata matatizo huko kwa Ruto, ukae huko. Hapana ita mimi ndugu yako,” Gachagua said.
Translated loosely, Gachagua told Kindiki that even if he had developed problems within President Ruto’s camp, he should remain there rather than calling on him as a brother.
#Gachagua questions Kindiki’s respect claim
Gachagua also revisited the circumstances surrounding his departure from the deputy presidency and questioned Kindiki’s role in the political developments that preceded his removal from office.
He challenged Kindiki to explain what he meant when he said he had respected Gachagua while the two served in the Kenya Kwanza administration.
“Siku alikuwa ofisi nilimheshimu. Tulikosana tu alipotoka akaniambia nitoke. Sasa Rigathi alitoka si wewe ulimtoa? Sasa nikuulize wewe Kindiki… wewe uliniheshimu namna gani?” he said.
Gachagua and Kindiki served together in President Ruto’s first administration, with Gachagua serving as Deputy President and Kindiki holding the Interior Cabinet Secretary position before succeeding Gachagua as Deputy President.
Gachagua was removed from office by Parliament in October 2024 following an impeachment process, after which Kindiki was appointed to the deputy presidency.
The political relationship between the two leaders has remained a subject of debate within Kenya’s political landscape.
#Illicit alcohol crackdown
Much of Gachagua’s criticism focused on the fight against illicit alcohol, an issue that was prominent during his tenure as Deputy President.
He accused Kindiki, who was then Interior Cabinet Secretary, of weakening efforts to combat illicit alcohol.
According to Gachagua, Kindiki was summoned by President Ruto and instructed to oppose or limit the campaign he had been leading against illicit alcoholic drinks.
“Kindiki ndio aliitwa na Ruto akiwa minister wa Interior. Akaambiwa hii vita Rigathi anafanya ya pombe staki mambo yake,” Gachagua said.
He went on to accuse the Deputy President of sabotaging the campaign.
“It is Kindiki who alisabotage hiyo vita dhidi ya pombe haramu. So unasema uliniheshimu namna gani na kazi nilifanya ya kusaidia watu wetu… wewe ndio ulisabotage?” he said.
Gachagua did not provide supporting documents or independent evidence for the allegations during the remarks.
His comments therefore represent his account of events and could not independently establish that Kindiki deliberately undermined the government’s campaign against illicit alcohol.
#Concerns over deaths
Gachagua said illicit alcohol remained a serious concern, particularly because of its alleged impact on young people.
He referred to reports concerning deaths linked to illicit alcoholic drinks and said the issue had caused him personal distress.
“Mchungaji umesema vizuri, you have buried over 300. Si ile ripoti mimi napata… mimi saa ingine silali. Hii watoto wetu wote vijana wamekwisha,” Gachagua said.
He did not specify the source of the figure he cited or provide details establishing that all the deaths were directly linked to illicit alcohol.
Gachagua also referred to another inexpensive alcoholic drink which he claimed could cause fatal consequences when consumed by several people.
Kwanza kuna ingine …Kamoja tu ya 50 shillings, watu watatu, wakimeza, chini,” he said.
His remarks reflect continuing political and public concern in Kenya over illicit and potentially dangerous alcoholic products, particularly in areas where such drinks have been associated with health and social problems.
A political dispute that continues
Gachagua’s latest remarks add to the political exchanges that have followed his departure from government.
Since leaving the deputy presidency, he has increasingly positioned himself as a critic of the Kenya Kwanza administration and has established the DCP as a political vehicle.
His criticism of President Ruto and members of the administration has frequently focused on issues affecting communities in central Kenya, including the government’s approach to economic and social concerns.
Kindiki, meanwhile, remains President Ruto’s deputy and has continued to defend the administration’s policies and programmes.
The contrasting political positions have made exchanges between the two sides increasingly significant as Kenya’s political alliances evolve.
The question of responsibility
Gachagua’s accusations against Kindiki raise questions about responsibility for the implementation of government policies during the period when the two served together.
As Interior Cabinet Secretary, Kindiki was responsible for a ministry with a broad mandate that included internal security and related enforcement responsibilities.
Gachagua, as Deputy President, had also taken a prominent public role in addressing the problem of illicit alcohol, particularly in areas where the issue had become a political and social concern.
However, determining whether the government’s campaign was deliberately undermined would require evidence beyond political statements.
The allegations would need to be assessed against official government records, enforcement data and statements from the officials involved.
#Calls for action against illicit alcohol
The debate over illicit alcohol has wider implications beyond the political dispute between Gachagua and Kindiki.
The sale and consumption of unsafe alcoholic products have raised concerns among families, community leaders and authorities in different parts of Kenya.
The issue is particularly sensitive where cheap alcoholic products are easily accessible to young people and where concerns exist about their contents and production standards.
Effective enforcement requires cooperation between national government agencies, county governments, law-enforcement authorities, health officials and local communities.
Public health experts have also repeatedly stressed the importance of regulating alcohol production and distribution while increasing public awareness of the dangers associated with unsafe products.
#Political implications
Gachagua’s decision to raise the issue while directly addressing Kindiki demonstrates how policy disagreements can become part of wider political competition.
By linking Kindiki to the government’s handling of illicit alcohol, Gachagua is also seeking to contrast his own record with that of the current administration.
The allegations, however, remain part of a political dispute and should be distinguished from independently established facts.
For Kindiki and the government, the claims could invite renewed scrutiny of the policies and enforcement measures used during their tenure.
The controversy also illustrates the continuing political significance of the 2024 changes within the Kenya Kwanza administration.
#Conclusion
Rigathi Gachagua’s latest criticism of Kithure Kindiki has reopened old political disagreements between the two leaders, with illicit alcohol emerging as one of the main points of contention.
Gachagua maintains that Kindiki failed to support his campaign against illicit alcohol and instead undermined it while serving as Interior Cabinet Secretary. Kindiki’s position on the specific allegations was not included in the remarks provided.
The claims therefore remain allegations made by Gachagua and would require independent verification and a response from the Deputy President or relevant government authorities.
Beyond the political contest, the discussion highlights a wider public concern over illicit alcohol and the need for effective enforcement and protection of communities from unsafe alcoholic products.
As Kenya’s political landscape continues to evolve, the dispute between the two former colleagues is likely to remain part of the broader debate over governance, accountability and the direction of the country’s political leadership.
