President William Ruto on Wednesday, February 11, led Kenya Kwanza leaders for a major development rally in Garissa County, where he presided over the disbursement of the NYOTA funds.
The President and his delegation made several stopovers across the county as part of their development tour aimed at boosting youth empowerment and economic inclusion in the region.
During the rally, Ruto hit back at his former deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, amid a growing political dispute over the rollout of the NYOTA cash programme in Northern Kenya.
The Head of State firmly dismissed calls for him to delegate youth-related matters, insisting that issues affecting young people are too critical to be handled without his direct involvement.
Ruto added that his administration is focused on job creation and financial inclusion rather than political battles.
In a sharp attack on his critics, Ruto accused Gachagua of engaging in tribal politics, arguing that his opponents lack a clear development agenda. His remarks were met with loud cheers from the crowd, with residents shouting, “Ndiyo! Ndiyo!” in agreement.
At one point, sections of the crowd were heard chanting “Tutam!” in support of the President as he questioned the track record of his political rivals.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki also addressed the gathering, reiterating the government’s commitment to supporting drought-affected communities in the region. He assured residents that relief and recovery efforts would continue until normalcy is restored.
Kindiki further criticized Gachagua, saying he lacks the moral authority to lecture the government on drought mitigation, given what he described as a questionable record.
The remarks come a day after Gachagua presented himself as the “spokesperson” for Northern Kenya, claiming he had consistently advocated for the region’s interests at the national level.
The DCP leader further alleged that North Eastern residents have long been sidelined by their elected leaders since independence and pledged to push for greater accountability and transparency in the management of public funds allocated to counties in the region.
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