President William Ruto's aide Farouk Kibet has fired back at former
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, accusing him of failing Kenyans during his
tenure and engaging in divisive politics after exiting government.
Farouk dismissed Gachagua’s recent remarks made during his
tour in the United States, where the DCP party leader accused him and an
unnamed MP from Rift Valley of misadvising President William Ruto, claims tied
to the ongoing school capitation debate.
“Your remark on shares got you out of government,” said Farouk, in reference to Gachagua’s infamous ‘shareholding’ comments.
“We are focused on
transforming the lives of Kenyans—a responsibility you failed to deliver as
Deputy President. We won’t bow down to your theatrics and divisive remarks.”
Gachagua, now the leader of the newly formed Democratic
Change Party (DCP), has recently been vocal in his criticism of the Kenya
Kwanza administration.
In the U.S., he claimed that Farouk and a Rift Valley MP were misleading the president, particularly over the decision to slash capitation funds for public schools.
But Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi refuted Gachagua’s
claims on Friday, stating that Parliament—not the Executive—was to blame for
inadequate school funding.
“We disbursed the whole amount allocated in the budget, but
still, it is not enough,” Mbadi said during a thanksgiving ceremony in Suba
South.
“If you divide the current budget by the number of students in secondary schools, you will only get about Sh17,000 per student. That has been the reality—even during President Uhuru Kenyatta’s tenure.”
Mbadi clarified that the government had proposed a higher
capitation amount, but Parliament reduced it further during budget approvals.
“Once a budget has been allocated, where do I get the money
to pay the full Sh22,000?” he posed.
Farouk, on his part, questioned the sincerity of leaders who focus their philanthropy only in urban areas.
“There are those who use their resources in Nairobi and
leave people at the grassroots dry. That is not how to spur development,” he
said.
“We believe in the bottom-up approach, which is why we are
here to help Kenyans, especially women and youth.”
He emphasized that the Kenya Kwanza administration remains
committed to uniting the country and taming tribalism, a veiled counter to
Gachagua’s perceived increasingly ethnic-toned rhetoric.
Farouk spoke on Saturday at a Women’s Economic Empowerment Programme in Bungoma County.
“Together, we raised funds to support various women's
groups, underscoring our shared commitment to advancing gender equity and
economic inclusion. When women are empowered, the nation is empowered,” he
said.
Farouk’s comments come amid a growing war of words between
Gachagua and his former allies in government.
Once Ruto’s running mate and Deputy President, Gachagua, has since distanced himself from the administration, forming his own party and establishing himself as the defender of Mount Kenya interests.
