Gachagua accuses Ruto’s govt of siege on small-scale gas dealers

Rigathi Gachagua, the former Deputy President and leader of the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), has accused President William Ruto's government of conducting a state-sanctioned siege against small-scale liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) dealers. During a speech on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, Gachagua alleged that government policies and enforcement measures had systematically targeted these small gas retailers, putting their livelihoods at risk.

He linked this issue to Ruto's 2023 promise to make cooking gas more affordable for Kenyan households, stating that the promise was expected to take effect in June 2023 but has not been fulfilled. Instead, Gachagua claimed, small-scale dealers have been subjected to increasing pressure from the state over the past two years, including ruthless censorship, systematic harassment, and a total subversion of the regulatory framework for the retail of LPG in cylinders.

He emphasized the importance of neighborhood shops and small businesses in serving households with daily household goods, noting that these businesses form a significant portion of the informal and small-scale economy, providing livelihoods for thousands of Kenyans. Gachagua's remarks come amid ongoing political debate over the cost of living and the government's approach to supporting small businesses, coinciding with continued criticism from the DCP leader ahead of the 2027 General Election.