Nairobi, Kenya — Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has leveled explosive accusations against President William Ruto, alleging clandestine dealings with Somalia-based militant group Al-Shabaab.
Speaking on Wednesday at a Democracy for Citizens Party event in Nyeri, Gachagua claimed that President Ruto secretly met with Al-Shabaab operatives in Mandera, a town along the Kenya-Somalia border. The alleged meeting, he asserted, raises serious questions about national security and Kenya’s counterterrorism policy.
“It is shocking and unacceptable that the Head of State would engage in secret talks with terrorists who have claimed countless Kenyan lives. This betrayal endangers every Kenyan and undermines the sacrifices made by our security forces,” Gachagua stated.
The former deputy president, who now leads the Democracy for Citizens Party following a dramatic fallout with the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA), further criticized the president’s recent decision to suspend vetting procedures for foreign nationals seeking Kenyan identification documents.
Gachagua warned that the relaxed policy could open the floodgates for terrorist infiltration.
“Suspending ID vetting is a dangerous move that could allow foreign extremists to acquire Kenyan documents and travel to other countries, including the United States. This poses a grave threat not only to Kenya’s national security but to global peace,” he said.
The government has yet to respond publicly to Gachagua’s allegations. However, the claims are likely to intensify scrutiny of President Ruto’s border and security policies amid growing public concern over terrorism and irregular migration.
Kenya has faced repeated attacks by Al-Shabaab militants, especially in border counties like Mandera, Wajir, and Garissa. The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) have been involved in counterterrorism operations in Somalia since 2011 under the African Union peacekeeping mission.
Security experts have expressed alarm over the allegations and called for independent investigations. If verified, the claims could strain Kenya’s diplomatic relations, particularly with international allies engaged in the global fight against terrorism.
Meanwhile, opposition leaders and civil society groups are demanding transparency from State House and the Ministry of Interior.
This is a developing story.