Gachagua questions Ruto administration’s handling of Safaricom-Vodacom share sale

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has criticized the Ruto administration's handling of the government's sale of a 15 per cent stake in Safaricom to Vodacom. He questioned why the transaction was permitted to proceed before the legal dispute surrounding it was fully resolved. Gachagua made these remarks during a business event in Kansas City, Missouri, as the transaction faces a new legal challenge and the government seeks to overturn a High Court ruling against the sale.

The DCP leader questioned the Court of Appeal's decision to lift conservatory orders that temporarily halted the transaction, arguing that it created complications after the sale was completed. He expressed concern over the government's decision, saying, "Why the judges of the Court of Appeal lifted the conservatory orders in the first place?"

The High Court had ruled on September 15, 2026, that the government's divestiture did not meet constitutional and statutory requirements, ordering the shares to be returned to the government. The transaction, completed on June 30, 2026, saw Safaricom's stake reduced from 35 per cent to 20 per cent after Vodacom bought the shares for approximately Ksh204.3 billion.

Gachagua emphasized that conservatory orders issued by the High Court are meant to preserve the subject of a dispute during litigation. He criticized the rushed lifting of these orders by the Court of Appeal, stating that it created complications after the sale was finalized. The dispute has sparked a broader debate on the handling of public assets in Kenya and the safeguards protecting the state's interests during such transactions.

Gachagua, now a critic of the Ruto administration, used the Safaricom-Vodacom deal to question the government's management of public assets and the extent of public involvement in significant government decisions. The government has rejected the High Court's ruling and plans to appeal it, while Vodacom has also indicated it will contest the judgment.

The outcome of the appeal will determine the fate of the Safaricom stake and likely prolong the legal proceedings.