Ruto Mocks Gachagua’s Role in United Opposition, Says His Major Contribution Is the Kasongo Nickname

President William Ruto has publicly ridiculed former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's role in the opposition, arguing that Gachagua's only meaningful contribution since impeachment has been coining the nickname "Kasongo", a jab directed at the President himself.

Ruto made the remarks on Tuesday in Wajir, where he addressed residents during a regional tour. 

The comments signal the President's confidence that the opposition coalition, including Gachagua's faction, poses little threat to his administration.

Gachagua was removed from office through an impeachment process last year, the first such removal of a deputy president in Kenya's history. 

He has since positioned himself within opposition circles, aligning with critics of the Ruto government and participating in anti-administration campaigns.

The opposition has grown more vocal in recent months. Slogans such as "one-term" and "Kasongo must go" have featured prominently in opposition rallies and public messaging.

Ruto did not limit his criticism to Gachagua alone. He took direct aim at the wider opposition coalition, accusing its leadership of substituting political noise for policy alternatives. 

He questioned the value of a planned opposition retreat, dismissing it as another round of meetings unlikely to produce anything useful for ordinary Kenyans.

His argument was straightforward. Opposition leaders, he said, have mastered the art of criticism but offered no development agenda. Slogans, in his view, do not fix roads, lower the cost of living, or create jobs.

He urged Wajir residents to tune out the opposition messaging entirely. His administration, he said, is concentrated on service delivery and economic programmes already running across the country.

No formal opposition response to Tuesday's remarks had been issued at the time of this report. 

However, opposition-aligned figures have consistently rejected the government's framing of their activities as unproductive, insisting that their movement reflects genuine public frustration.

The crowds in Wajir received the President's remarks with applause. Senior officials present included Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi, and Garissa Governor Nathif Jama. MPs and ward representatives from the region also attended.

Opposition leaders are expected to respond in the coming days. Their reaction will determine whether this exchange remains rhetorical or escalates into sharper political conflict.