Speaking on Sunday, March 29, the president accused Gachagua of disinheriting widows and orphans in a dispute linked to the estate of his late brother, Nderitu Gachagua.
Ruto insisted that property allegedly taken from the family must be returned, including a hotel in Nairobi and a house in Kilifi.
“Continue insulting me if you want, but the property of widows and orphans must be returned. That hotel in Nairobi—return it. That house in Kilifi—return it,” Ruto declared.
The president said he could withstand political criticism directed at him but vowed to defend vulnerable people who cannot protect themselves.
“Keep insulting me; I am a man and I can defend myself. But widows and orphans cannot defend themselves. I will defend them, even before God,” he added.
The remarks came days after Gachagua responded to allegations raised in a letter reportedly written by some of his late brother’s children to the president seeking intervention in the family succession dispute.
During a podcast interview on March 27, Gachagua dismissed the claims and accused Ruto of orchestrating the move to tarnish his reputation.
He alleged that family members were taken to State House and encouraged to write letters accusing him of wrongdoing.
“Wamumbi took them to State House and they were told to sign letters that are now circulating. This is politics and hot air, and we will dismantle it,” Gachagua said.
Gachagua further alleged that some of his relatives were promised board positions, business opportunities, and money in exchange for writing complaints against him.
According to him, the accusations are part of a broader political scheme after attempts to arrest him allegedly failed.
The former deputy president also rejected claims that he forged his late brother’s will.
He said the matter had already been settled in court in 2018, where family members agreed to the contents of the will and allowed executors to implement it.
Gachagua explained that his brother’s will included 21 beneficiaries, among them his two wives, children, and other family members.
“We went to court in 2018 and everyone confirmed they agreed with the will. The court adopted it and allowed the executors to proceed,” he said.
He added that the will instructed that some property be sold to settle debts before the remaining assets were distributed among beneficiaries.
Gachagua told relatives who wrote the letter to the president that they were too late to challenge the will, insisting the legal window for appeals had already closed.
“If they want to, they can go back to court, but the window for appeal is over,” he stated.
He also warned them that they were being used politically and could later be abandoned.
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