Suna West MP Peter Masara has criticized former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua for attempting to distance himself from the failures of President William Ruto’s administration.
Gachagua, who was impeached in October, recently accused the government of making rushed and poor decisions, coercing Kenyans, and ignoring public dissent. Speaking during an interview with NTV, he claimed he had no involvement in the rollout of unpopular policies, including the troubled transition from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the Social Health Authority (SHA). He even hinted at plans to "expose" Ruto's actions to the public.
In response, Masara on Tuesday held Gachagua accountable for the government’s shortcomings, arguing that as the former Deputy President, he shared responsibility for the administration’s performance. Speaking on Citizen TV’s *Day Break* program, Masara said, “The person who should be held accountable and responsible for the messes in government is Gachagua. He was the principal assistant to the President. If he failed in his role, he should return the salary he earned as Deputy President.”
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Masara dismissed Gachagua’s recent remarks as an attempt to garner sympathy, which he claimed would not succeed. “Even with the sympathy of the entire country, he cannot win an election anywhere. He was complicit in the government’s failures and remained silent while earning his salary. Now, he’s speaking up, but it’s too late,” Masara stated.
The MP also accused Gachagua of engaging in divisive politics, adding, “Kenya is a multiparty democracy. When you resort to the kind of politics Gachagua was playing, you are bound to fail.”
In the NTV interview, Gachagua defended himself by pointing to allegations made during his impeachment, including claims of insubordination. He suggested his removal was politically motivated, alleging that he was targeted for opposing government policies he believed were harmful to Kenyans.
“I have reached this point because I refused to betray the people of Kenya. I spoke out against what was wrong, and when Kenyans raised concerns, I conveyed them to the President,” Gachagua said. He served as Deputy President for over two years before his ouster from Ruto’s government.
