Kenyan President and Former Deputy Trade Insults in Escalating Political Feud
Nairobi, Kenya – A political rivalry between Kenyan President William Ruto and his former deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, has descended into personal attacks, raising concerns about the tone of the upcoming 2027 presidential race. The exchange, which began as a fallout over political strategy, has now included what observers describe as body shaming.
The escalation began Sunday when Gachagua publicly mocked President Ruto’s appearance during a public address. “Na uzuri atakiwa na hiyo pesa yote halali. Si umeona amekonda mpaka masikio imekuja juu? Heh? Mmeona?” Gachagua reportedly said, suggesting Ruto’s appearance reflected improper wealth accumulation.
President Ruto responded Tuesday, directing remarks at critics and also targeting political rival Fred Matiang’i with equally personal comments. “Kwanza mimi nauliza wengine waende gym. Kwanza. Wacheni kula chakula mingi. Tumbo karibu inaparsuka. Kichwa karibu inaparsuka. Mnalala kwa mkutano mchana. Ata hewa mnaharibu. Kwenden kabisa. Bure!” Ruto stated, urging opponents to exercise and suggesting they were overweight.
The increasingly personal nature of the attacks has drawn criticism, with many arguing that leaders are crossing a line from policy debates into insults. While heated exchanges are common in Kenyan politics, this latest trend marks a new low, occurring more than a year before the official start of the 2027 campaign period.
The feud between Ruto and Gachagua signals a potentially divisive election cycle, and raises questions about the future of political discourse in Kenya.
