Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua at PCEA Mwiki on April 6, 2025.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has said that should the opposition coalition form the next government, the Housing Levy will be scrapped and constructed houses handed to county governments to rent out to refund Kenyans.
While accusing the Kenya Kwanza administration of prioritising personal and commercial interests, Mr Gachagua said their first assignment would be to “restore the dignity of the pay slip,” referring to abolishing new deductions imposed on salaried workers that have seen incomes shrink.
The former deputy president said should if his team forms the next government, houses constructed by President William Ruto’s government under the affordable housing programme will be handed to counties to rent out and refund taxpayers their deductions.
"Our plan is to restore democracy and the rule of law. We will allow institutions to work. My administration will allow the cabinet to advise and work freely. We will listen to the people. The removal of Ruto is a prerequisite for the restoration of Kenya."
Mr Gachagua said he will be meeting like-minded political party leaders on Tuesday, April 29, to plan how to unite Kenya against President Ruto.
On Gachagua vying for presidency
The former deputy president said if his case against his impeachment had not been concluded, he would also have vied, but is ready to compete in the primaries to select a joint presidential candidate for the opposition.
He said they will strive to name their flag bearer by the end of 2026, adding that his camp would invest heavily in scientific research to arrive at a formula to beat President Ruto.
Mr Gachagua, who is set to unveil his political party next month, said he was willing to support a more popular presidential candidate "so as to make Dr Ruto a one term president".
"As long as my impeachment petition would not have been concluded by the Supreme Court, I will vie for the presidency. I am working with Kalonzo Musyoka, Martha Karua, Eugene Wamalwa, George Natembeya and Fred Matiang’i to form a winning team. We will first look for votes and agree on one candidate later. I will stand down for whoever will get the most support in our camp because Ruto must go home," Mr Gachagua said.
"We will engage the experts to arrive at the right formula. We intend to have over 50 MPs from the mountain. We want leaders who can defend the interests of their people and not selfish gains," he added.
Pay back
He said his political party would also focus on sending home all members of parliament allied to President Ruto.
Mr Gachagua said former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi would hold a senior position in the political party.
He spoke on Sunday night during an interview with Meru-based Weru TV.
While vowing to continue defending the interests of Mt Kenya region, he accused MPs of turning into sycophants.
He blamed his bitter fallout with President Ruto partly on Meru MPs, whom he accused of reporting him to the president whenever he rallied them to defend the interests of their people.
President William Ruto (left) and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
"I once called the Meru MPs for a meeting to share the problems we were facing with Ruto. The president was removing our people from government, so I urged them to work towards pressuring the president to deliver his promises. However, they went behind my back and reported me to the president, who was very mad at me," he claimed.
Mr Gachagua further said going forward, there was a need to relook the procedure of recalling members of parliament to tame legislative overreach.
"The constitution has been subverted by removing the elected deputy president and capturing the parliament and the opposition," he said.
Mr Gachagua said the government was not delivering in Mt Kenya region because MPs have been compromised by the executive.
"If the MPs think I was the problem, why are people still being killed in Meru by bandits? Now that I've left, what project do they have to show? I was removed because I stood against the wrongs of this administration," he said.
Mr Gachagua hit out at Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen for threatening to gag him and former CS Justin Muturi on the basis of the Official Secrets Act.
"Such threats are laughable. Since when did theft of public resources, crime and corruption become classified information? CS Murkomen can proceed and charge us. We are ready to be prosecuted for speaking the truth," he said.
