President Ruto and DP Gachagua Clash Over Leadership and Drought Response - February 2026

President William Ruto stated that his deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, lacks the authority to criticize his leadership, and has also admonished him concerning ethnic politics. In turn, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has criticized President Ruto's handling of the ongoing drought crisis in Kenya. Gachagua specifically criticized the government's allocation of 4 billion shillings to combat the drought, calling the amount insufficient for the 3.3 million people affected. He is calling for the drought to be declared a national disaster as its severity continues to impact communities across the country.