When Rigathi Gachagua was unceremoniously impeached as Kenya's Deputy President in October 2024, many expected him to fade quietly into political obscurity. Instead, he has come out swinging — and his latest revelations, if true, paint a picture of a sitting president who has allegedly used the power of his office to quietly build one of Kenya's most extensive business empires.
In a recent video address, Gachagua laid out a detailed list of businesses and assets he claims are secretly owned or controlled by President William Ruto. Here is what he alleges:
1. Nairobi West Hospital
Perhaps the most explosive claim is that Ruto secretly owns Nairobi West Hospital, and that businessman Nahashon Mishra was killed to clear the way for Ruto to take over and boom the hospital's market. This is an extraordinary allegation that, if proven, would have serious criminal implications.
2. Insurance Companies — Police and Civil Servant Schemes
Gachagua claims Ruto has interests in insurance companies that specifically target government employees, including police officers and civil servants. Given the mandatory nature of some of these schemes, this would represent a direct pipeline from public payrolls into private pockets.
3. The Eldoret University Project — A Calculated Strike at Moi University?
The planned university in Eldoret, Gachagua alleges, is not merely a development project. He claims it is a deliberate effort to undermine and eventually kill Moi University — one of Kenya's oldest public universities — by drawing away students, funding, and relevance.
4. Fuliza — The Mobile Lending Cash Cow
In one of his more startling claims, Gachagua alleges that Ruto has ownership interests in Fuliza, Safaricom's wildly popular mobile lending product. Fuliza processes billions of shillings in transactions monthly, making it one of the most profitable financial products in East Africa.
5. eCitizen — 80% of a Government Platform
Gachagua claims Ruto personally benefits from eCitizen — the government's own digital services platform — to the tune of 80% ownership. If accurate, this would mean Kenyans are essentially paying the president every time they access a government service online.
6. A Hospitality Empire Spanning Kenya's Tourist Hotspots
From Mombasa to Taveta, Amboseli to Maasai Mara and Samburu, Gachagua alleges Ruto has built a sprawling hospitality empire strategically positioned in Kenya's most lucrative tourist destinations. The timing of government investment in tourism infrastructure in these areas, critics have long argued, has not always appeared coincidental.
7. Weston Hotel — The Government's Favourite Venue
The Weston Hotel has long been associated with Ruto in public discourse. Gachagua now adds his voice to those alleging it is Ruto's, and goes further — claiming that government conferences, seminars and workshops are deliberately channelled to Weston, ensuring a steady flow of public money into the facility.
8. Sidian Bank — The Government's Unofficial Banker
According to Gachagua, Sidian Bank is Ruto's, and major government financial flows pass through it. He specifically names the Affordable Housing Programme, the Social Health Authority (SHA), and the County Government of Nairobi as among the entities whose transactions are routed through the bank.
9. The Tuju Properties — Acquired Through Proxies
Finally, Gachagua alleges that properties previously associated with former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju were acquired by Ruto through proxy buyers — a common method of concealing true ownership of high-value assets.
Why This Matters
Gachagua is not an ordinary accuser. As Deputy President for nearly two years, he sat at the very top of government. He attended the same meetings, shared the same intelligence briefings, and operated within the same inner circle as Ruto. That insider status lends a degree of weight to his allegations that a regular opposition politician simply cannot claim.
At the same time, it is important to be clear: these remain allegations. Gachagua has powerful personal and political motivations to damage Ruto's reputation following his dramatic impeachment. None of the claims above have been proven in a court of law, and Ruto's office has not been given space here to respond.
What is certain is that these allegations deserve serious scrutiny — from investigative journalists, from oversight institutions, and ultimately from Kenyan voters.
The truth, whatever it is, belongs to the public.
Disclaimer: The claims in this article are allegations made by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. They have not been independently verified. This blog does not assert their truth or falsity.