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President William Ruto has sharply responded to criticism from his former deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, dismissing claims that his recent weight loss is linked to mounting political pressure.
Speaking on Tuesday, March 17, in Cheptais, Mt Elgon, the Head of State turned the spotlight back on Gachagua, advising him to focus on personal fitness instead of commenting on his appearance.
Ruto mocked his former ally, suggesting he should spend more time in the gym. He implied that poor fitness could explain why some leaders struggle to stay alert during official meetings.
“I want to ask these people to go to the gym. Stop eating too much, your stomach will burst. You even fall asleep during meetings,” the President said, drawing cheers from supporters.
The President also accused the united opposition of lacking a clear development agenda. He claimed their political strategy revolves entirely around attacking him instead of offering solutions to Kenyans.
“You people in the opposition, you claim your only agenda is William Ruto, surely? If you want us to go there, you will regret it,” he warned during the rally.
On Monday, Gachagua had ridiculed the President, alleging that constant criticism from the opposition had left him restless and visibly slimmer.
According to the former Deputy President, the pressure mounted by government critics has unsettled Ruto despite his access to state resources and financial muscle.
“The good thing is that even with all that money, he does not sleep. You can even see how much weight he has lost. He has billions but cannot get rest,” Gachagua said.
Gachagua further claimed that some civil servants and public officers were discreetly supplying the opposition with information to strengthen their oversight role.
He thanked insiders who allegedly share intelligence on government operations, saying such revelations would continue to expose weaknesses within the Kenya Kwanza administration.
The DCP party leader reaffirmed his resolve to make Ruto a one-term president, insisting that opposition forces are consolidating support ahead of the 2027 General Election.
