President William Ruto has hit back at Rigathi Gachagua in a sharp response following remarks that branded members of the Akorino sect as “traitors” for visiting State House.
Speaking on Sunday at State House Nairobi, Ruto stood his ground, defending both the visit and his broader approach to leadership.
In a moment that drew murmurs from the crowd, the President dismissed attempts to divide Kenyans along tribal or religious lines:
“Katika safari yetu, hatujaulizana wewe ni wa kabila gani… tumeungana hapa kwa sababu ndio mapenzi ya Mungu tufanye kazi pamoja.” He said.
The remarks appeared to directly counter Gachagua’s stance, especially in Mt Kenya where the Akorino community holds cultural and religious influence.
But it was Ruto’s blunt message to his critics that stood out most.
“Hii State House ni ya Wakenya wote… na wewe ambaye unauliza maswali kuhusu nani anakuja hapa, wewe unaongea kama nani?”
The President made it clear he will not be dictated to on who accesses State House, insisting that opening its doors to ordinary citizens is not lowering its status, but redefining it.
“Sio ati nimeshusha hadhi ya State House… nimeinua wananchi wakafika hapa.”
This comes after Gachagua had blasted members of the Akorino Sect folowing their visit to State House.
In a statement, the former deputy president claimed that the religious group had been invited to State House to “sanitise” President William Ruto amid claims of profiling and persecution of sections of the Mt Kenya community.