Gachagua labels Ruto’s presidency ‘imperial’, calls hustler fund a ‘lost cause’

Nairobi, Kenya - Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has harshly criticized President William Ruto's first four years in office, accusing him of transforming Kenya into an "imperial presidency" and declaring several government initiatives, including the Hustler Fund, failures. Gachagua contended that Ruto abandoned constitutional democracy and the reforms promised during his 2022 presidential campaign, instead centralizing power and ruling as a "ruthless dictator."

In a scathing account, Gachagua highlighted the administration's failure to fulfill promises to the Kenyan people, stating that the administration had imposed a heavier tax burden on households while the cost of living continued to rise. He criticized the government's handling of public debt, which had increased to Sh13.02 trillion as of August 2022, from Sh8.6 trillion in August 2022, without corresponding development.

Gachagua specifically targeted the Hustler Fund, one of the administration's flagship economic programs, arguing that it had failed to transform the lives of ordinary Kenyans. He questioned the effectiveness of the programme, which reportedly disbursed billions of shillings to millions of Kenyans, but found that the small amounts disbursed were insufficient to establish or expand sustainable businesses. Gachagua dismissed the Hustler Fund as a "lost cause and a fraud."

The former deputy president framed his assessment as a political verdict in the lead-up to the 2027 General Election. He urged Kenyans to evaluate the current administration's performance based on its adherence to its campaign commitments rather than its promises of new plans and long-term visions. Gachagua's Democratic for Citizens Party intends to mobilize Kenyans with a 364-day action plan to restore the country's dignity before the upcoming election on August 10, 2027.