RUTO TRASHES GACHAGUA'S ACADEMIC BACKGROUND

President William Ruto has openly mocked the literacy levels of his former deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, claiming he could never have thrived with him as his number two because of what he described as a shallow academic prowess.

Speaking at State House, Nairobi, on Saturday, September 13, during a gathering of more than 10,000 teachers, Ruto recalled the frustrations of working with Gachagua and suggested that his academic record made him insecure and ineffective.

"Nilikuwa na mwingine analalamika, hajasoma, nikaona ataniangusha," Ruto said, drawing laughter from the crowd. “Huyu naibu wangu (Kindiki) mnamwona aje, ni noma si noma, ni fire si fire?”

The head of state contrasted Gachagua with his current deputy, Kithure Kindiki, who he hailed as an accomplished scholar and dependable partner in leadership.

"If you want to succeed, you put people around you who are more intelligent than you. Saa ile wanakusaidia kushine, you take the credit, na wao ndio wanafanya job," Ruto added, praising Kindiki’s academic credentials. “Unajua ukitaka kufaulu unatafuta deputy amesoma kuliko wewe.”

During the teachers’ event, Ruto used the moment not only to mock his former ally but also to highlight the role of education in shaping leadership. He described himself as “probably the most learned Kenyan president ever elected” and underlined his readiness to deliver change.

"I have got an opportunity, and a very unique one. Among those who came after me, some were old; I am not old. I have enough experience; I have been an MP for 15 years, I was a deputy president for ten years. Is there any other experience I should be waiting for? I am learned and well-educated. I am probably the most learned Kenyan president ever elected in Kenya," he told the gathering.

Ruto further insisted that his education and experience leave him with no excuse but to transform the country. “Forgive me. We must transform this country, and I am very committed to it. We are very late. Let’s, for once, focus on changing the country.”

Despite parading his academic journey — a Bachelor of Science in Botany and Zoology, a Master’s in Plant Ecology, and a PhD in Plant Ecology from the University of Nairobi — Ruto has faced online ridicule, with some Kenyans questioning the credibility of his credentials, while others dismiss them as mere titles with little real achievement attached.