Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) Leader Rigathi Gachagua has responded to claims made by President William Ruto that he sabotaged the fight against illicit alcohol.

In a statement on Wednesday, March 25, Gachagua blew his own trumpet that while serving as President Ruto’s deputy, the fight against drugs and substance abuse was 70% won under his stewardship.

Gachagua accused President Ruto of using current Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo to frastruate the very success he had achieved in that mission.

“Our young men stopped taking illicit alcohol as it was not available. You were angry that an entire generation had been saved,” Gachagua said. “You used Mr. [Kindiki] and Raymond Omollo to frustrate the success.”

He also alleged that President Ruto further sabotaged the initiative by appointing known drug barons to his Cabinet.

“Kenya is now a known international drug transit and destination,” he added.

Gachagua further said that he pleaded with President Ruto on several occassions not to sabotage his efforts in the fight against illicit alcohiol, but “all these fell into deaf ears”.

“Fed up by your actions, I had no choice but to tell you off publicly in Nyandarua at Ndogino AIPCA Church on Sunday July 14th, 2024.”

Gachagua’s response comes a day after President Ruto, during a rally in Siaya County, accused him of incompetence for failing in several of assignments entrusted to him.

“I gave him a chance to help me with coffee matters, but he joined the coffee cartels and asked farmers to pay him three shillings per kilo.

“He said he was fighting illicit alcohol, but he ended up becoming an extortionist, extorting people who run businesses,” President Ruto stated.