President Ruto angrily fired back at a Coco FM journalist who questioned him over Rigathi Gachagua's claims that he plans to sell Kenya's niobium deposits to a foreign firm.
President William Ruto did not hide his irritation when a journalist pressed him on claims made by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua regarding Kenya's niobium deposits, responding with a sharp and visibly annoyed outburst that has quickly become the talk of the day.
The Exchange
The moment unfolded when a journalist, reporting for Coco FM, put Gachagua's recent remarks to the President directly. Rather than engaging with the substance of the claims, Ruto hit back angrily, dismissing both the question and the man behind the claims.
"Tafadhali usiniletee maneno ya mtu mjinga kama huyo. Ule ni mpuuzi sana. Mimi nimeketi hapa kama Rais wa Kenya, unaniletea maneno ya huyo mtu wazimu," Ruto said — translating roughly to: "Please don't bring me the words of such a foolish person. That one is complete nonsense. I am seated here as the President of Kenya, and you bring me the words of that mad man."
The remarks were a direct, unmistakable jab at Gachagua, delivered with little attempt to soften the blow.
What Sparked the Clash
The exchange traces back to recent claims by Gachagua, who has accused Ruto of working to hand over Kenya's niobium deposits — found in the Mrima Hills area of Kwale County and reportedly worth trillions of shillings — to a foreign firm. Gachagua alleged that Ruto's engagements abroad were, in part, aimed at firming up agreements to exploit the minerals, a claim the government has previously pushed back on, with the Mining Cabinet Secretary stating that no licences had been issued for mining in the area.
By the time the journalist's question reached him, it appears the President had already run out of patience with the subject — and it showed.
A Rivalry That Keeps Escalating
The outburst is the latest flashpoint in what has become an increasingly bitter and personal rivalry between Ruto and his former deputy since Gachagua's impeachment. Where previous exchanges between the two have largely played out through dueling press statements and rally speeches, this one stood out for its rawness — a sitting president openly losing his composure in response to a direct question from a journalist.
Whether this moment cools tempers or fuels the fire further remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the war of words between Ruto and Gachagua shows no signs of slowing down.