Kenya’s Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua demands cabinet purge over drug abuse
Kenya’s Deputy President, Rigathi Gachagua has openly challenged President William Ruto to dismiss two unnamed cabinet ministers he alleges are involved in drug trafficking, as a test of the government’s commitment to tackling narcotics abuse.
Speaking amid rising tensions within the ruling Kenya Kwanza coalition, Mr Gachagua said: “If you are serious about fighting drug abuse, first sack the two drug barons who sit in your cabinet.”His comments, delivered in Nairobi on Saturday, coincide with intensified government anti-drug campaigns, including public awareness drives and police crackdowns.
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However, critics have long accused senior officials of double standards, pointing to unproven claims of elite involvement in the trade.
Mr Gachagua, a vocal critic of some cabinet members, has not named the individuals in question, fuelling speculation across Kenya’s fractious political landscape.
The remarks highlight deepening rifts in the coalition that propelled Mr Ruto to power in 2022.
Drug abuse remains a major crisis in Kenya, with UN data estimating over 500,000 users nationwide, predominantly young people.
The government has pledged tougher measures, including a recent national summit on narcotics, but faces accusations of selective enforcement.
Relations between Mr Gachagua and Mr Ruto have soured since last year’s impeachment bid against the deputy president, which was overturned by the courts.
Sources within Kenya Kwanza say Mr Gachagua’s latest salvo risks further splintering the alliance ahead of future elections.
President Ruto’s office has not yet responded to the allegations.
A spokesperson for the presidency dismissed similar past claims as “baseless politicking”.
What we know and don’t Named suspects? None. Mr Gachagua’s refusal to identify the ministers leaves the claims unverified.
Evidence? No public proof has emerged linking cabinet members to drugs.
Kenyan anti-corruption bodies have investigated related rumours but issued no charges.
It was reported that Anti-narcotics agency NACADA reports increased seizures in 2025, but admits elite complicity hampers progress.
BBC News has sought comment from the implicated cabinet but received no reply at time of publication.
Meanwhile, Kenya’s politics often blend policy debates with personal vendettas, and these claims underscore that pattern.
