Rigathi Gachagua Claims Farouk Kibet Is as Powerful as President: “Everybody Reports to Him”
- Former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua accused Farouk Kibet of acting as a co-president, claiming he wields immense influence in government
- He alleged that Kibet tried to control his office, managing appointments and giving instructions, which Gachagua resisted
- Gachagua claimed that Kibet solicited bribes from individuals seeking access to the former deputy president, damaging his reputation
- He claimed that he confronted Ruto directly, demanding that all instructions come from him, not through aides like Kibet
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Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
Nairobi - Former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua has accused President William Ruto's personal aide Farouk Kibet of operating as a co-president with unchecked authority over government operations.
Source: UGC
Gachagua firmly rejected Ruto’s earlier claims that he was constantly involved in petty disagreements with government officials, including Kibet and blogger Dennis Itumbi.
According to Gachagua, Kibet's role in government goes well beyond that of a personal assistant.
He alleged that Kibet regularly issues instructions to Cabinet secretaries and other high-ranking officials on behalf of the president.
"He said that I fight small people. Farouk Kibet is not a small man. He is a co-president in this country. Farouk Kibet runs the government. Everyone reports to him; the Inspector General of Police, the Head of Public Service, and Cabinet Secretaries. William Ruto gives instructions to Cabinet ministers through Farouk Kibet. Ministers tremble at his very sight," Gachagua alleged.
How did Gachagua fight back against Kibet?
The former deputy president claimed Kibet even attempted to take control of his office by managing his schedule and making appointments, which he initially assumed had been authorised by Ruto himself.
Source: Twitter
He went on to allege that Kibet was using his proximity to the presidency to solicit bribes from individuals seeking access to the former DP.
"So, Farouk Kibet wanted to give instructions to Rigathi Gachagua. Rigathi Gachagua was elected by the people of Kenya alongside William Ruto. There is no way I would have allowed Farouk Kibet to give instructions to me. Farouk Kibet was trying to run my office, make appointments for people to come and see me and initially I thought its ok, maybe that’s how Ruto wants us to work, until I learned that Kibet was collecting money from people to come and see me and I had nothing to give them in return," he alleged.
Gachagua recounted reporting the issue directly to the president, telling him firmly that he would not take instructions through an aide.
"I went and I told the President and said, ‘Mr President, I am your principal assistant please, your personal assistant cannot give me instructions and if you want to give me any instructions, you give them yourself, and I will obey them to the letter. But your cannot use your PA to order me around and your PA is taking advantage to make money from people'," he stressed.
Did Ruto try to have Gachagua resign?
In other news, Gachagua made startling allegations against Ruto, claiming he was offered a substantial financial inducement to vacate his position.
According to Gachagua, the president allegedly tried to persuade him to resign by offering a sum ranging from KSh 1.5 billion to KSh 2 billion.
Gachagua stated that he turned down the alleged bribe and maintained his stance despite mounting political tension.
He added that the alleged offer was not made directly by the president but was instead delivered through a trusted emissary acting on Ruto's behalf.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
