Nairobi, Kenya – Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has dismissed a request by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale to engage in a televised public debate, insisting that he will only face President William Ruto directly.
The exchange unfolded after Duale, speaking at the NYOTA youth empowerment event at Garissa High School on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, proposed a debate with Gachagua on Citizen TV’s JKLive.
“President Ruto, leave him (Gachagua) to me. I will deal with him,” Duale told the President amid cheers from the crowd.
Gachagua’s Response
In a sharp rejoinder on Thursday, Gachagua rejected the idea, saying he does not debate with “employees” of Ruto.
“I don’t debate nor engage with employees of William Ruto. I am only available for one debate with the Ruto team, the Presidential Debate next year between Mr. William Ruto and I. His employees should help him prepare talking notes early enough,” Gachagua said.
Ruto’s Intervention
President Ruto, present at the Garissa event, did not back his cabinet secretary. Instead, he cautioned against wasting time on unnecessary arguments.
“I want to tell my friend Aden Duale, those who know English normally say, ‘Don’t argue with a fool; people will not know the difference.’ Let us not waste our time. We have an agenda for this nation,” Ruto remarked.
Roots of the Rift
The friction between Duale and Gachagua stems from remarks Gachagua made in Nyeri, accusing Northern leaders of misusing devolution funds. He later escalated his criticism, accusing the Kenya Kwanza government of sidelining the North Eastern region, leaving it vulnerable to drought and famine.
Conclusion
The latest confrontation underscores growing tensions within the ruling coalition, with Gachagua positioning himself as a direct challenger to President Ruto while dismissing cabinet-level engagements. As Kenya heads toward the 2027 elections, the political drama between the former deputy president and the current administration is likely to intensify.
