Ruto hits back at Gachagua over relief food claims

President William Ruto and his Deputy President Kithure Kindiki at Mandera Stadium. /STEPHEN ASTARIKO

President William Ruto joins traditional dancers at Moi Stadium, Mandera./STEPHEN ASTARIKO.

Some of the beneficiaries of the NYOTA funds from Mandera. /STEPHEN ASTARIKO.

President William Ruto has criticised former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, saying he is the least qualified person to comment on matters relating to relief food distribution.

Speaking in Mandera on Thursday, a visibly firm President Ruto dismissed the allegations and launched a scathing attack on his former deputy.

The president’s remarks came after Gachagua, while addressing the media on Tuesday at the DCP party headquarters in Nairobi, accused the government of mismanaging public funds and failing to allocate adequate resources to drought response efforts.

Gachagua alleged that the Sh4 billion recently set aside for drought mitigation was insufficient and further claimed that leaders from the region were engaged in the plunder of public funds at the expense of suffering residents.

“You have no moral authority to tell anybody anything on matters of relief food,” Ruto said.

“We gave some people the job to do, but they ended up messing up everything and decided to trade in relief food at the expense of vulnerable families,” he added.

The President defended his administration’s drought response measures and thanked the current Deputy President for working round the clock to ensure seamless distribution of relief food across all Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) counties.

“For the first time, we have the most comprehensive delivery of relief food in Mandera County, and the Deputy President has played an integral role in ensuring that everything runs smoothly. The same has been confirmed by Governor Mohamed Khalif,” Ruto said.

Ruto noted that while the short-term solution to drought mitigation includes the distribution of relief food and hay for livestock, his administration is pursuing a long-term strategy to address the perennial problem.

He revealed that under the National Infrastructure Fund, the government plans to construct 50 mega dams, 200 medium-sized dams, and 1,000 micro dams across the country.

According to the President, a significant number of these dams will be built in the Northeastern region to address the persistent water shortage and support irrigation.

The President reiterated his administration’s commitment to ensuring food security and sustainable water solutions for drought-prone regions.