Who is the fool? Ruto, Gachagua trade barbs over Mrima Hill mineral deposits

President William Ruto issues title deeds to residents of land settlement schemes in Taita-Taveta County. [PCS]

President William Ruto and his former deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, have traded barbs over the Mrima mineral deposits, with the two now accusing each other of being a ‘fool’.

The Head of State shut down a journalist during a coastal media roundtable after being asked to substantiate his deal with investors in the United States over the mineral deposits, following Gachagua’s claims that Kenya could get little from the exploitation of niobium at Mrima Hills.

Gachagua had claimed that the proceeds would instead be shared between Ruto and the American company involved.

Ruto responded sharply when a journalist asked him about Gachagua’s claims, dismissing the former Deputy President’s remarks and questioning their credibility.

“Tafadhali usiniletee maneno ya mtu mjinga kama huyo. Ule ni mpuuzi sana. Mimi nimeketi hapa kama Rais wa Kenya, unaniletea maneno ya huyo mtu wazimu,” Ruto said.

The remarks may be loosely translated to mean: “Please don’t bring the issues of a fool like him (Gachagua). He is very nonsensical. I sit here as the President and you are bringing in issues of that mad man.”

On September 19, Gachagua alleged that Ruto would use his US trip to sign a Sh8.2 trillion minerals deal with an American company during his visit to the United States.

Gachagua claimed Ruto’s US trip would include discussions on Kenya’s mineral resources and a proposed partnership with American investors.

He said Ruto’s attendance at the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) was only part of his wider engagements in the US.

“William Ruto is in the air on his way to New York for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). But that is not his mission. That is just a camouflage. He will go there, take a few pictures, give a few speeches, and meet a few presidents and others,” Gachagua stated.

Gachagua alleged that Ruto would use his US trip to finalise an agreement with an American company over the exploitation of Kenya’s mineral deposits.

“His real mission in the United States is to come and seal a deal with Americans on how niobium will be exploited from Kenya,” Gachagua said.

The Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader further claimed that officials from the American company had visited Kenya about four weeks earlier and signed an agreement with a person he described as Ruto’s proxy.

He alleged that Ruto was travelling to the US to meet the Americans and conclude what he described as the final stage of the arrangement.

On Friday, Gachagua hit back at Ruto over the ‘fool’ remarks, claiming the President was furious and frustrated because his private deals had been made public and that his efforts to send moles into the Opposition to identify the source of intelligence leaks had failed.

Additionally, Gachagua, who addressed Kenyans living in Massachusetts, Boston, questioned why he would be described as a fool after defeating Ruto’s preferred candidate in the Ol Kalou by-election, despite what he described as billions of shillings spent by the government.

Gachagua claimed that the by-election was effectively a contest between him and Ruto, arguing that the President had deployed significant resources in an attempt to influence voters to support the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate.

He said it was Kenyans who would ultimately decide who between him and Ruto was foolish.

He claimed that the government spent Sh16 billion on development projects in Ol Kalou in an effort to woo local residents and rally them behind his preferred candidate.

“If Ruto says that Gachagua is a fool, probably he could be right; he could be wrong. That will be decided with time,” he said.

He further pointed to the 2027 General Election as the moment when Kenyans would have an opportunity to make their judgement.

Gachagua said that by August 10, 2027, the political picture would be clear and Kenyans would have determined the direction they wanted to take.

On his fallout with Ruto, Gachagua said he had been a loyal deputy and had agreed to support the President for 10 years until Ruto decided to remove him through impeachment.

He told his Diaspora supporters that his preparation for the presidency was supposed to take 10 years, but Ruto had shortened the journey to five years.

“We had agreed with him that I would support him for ten years. And then myself I would go for the same period. By removing me he cut my journey from ten to five years. I’m now going to be President in 2027 and I was willing to support him for ten years. I did not have a problem. I was a very loyal Deputy and we differed with him because I used to advise him properly, warning him about killing on Gen Z, stealing from Kenyans and lying to Kenyans. I wanted him to succeed but he could not take the truth and decided to get rid of me,” he said.