Gachagua Calls Out World Leaders At Nairobi Summit, Alleges “Transnational Repression” And Corruption

In a scathing press briefing on Tuesday, May 12, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua took aim at President William Ruto, urging visiting dignitaries to confront the Kenyan leader over alleged human rights abuses and financial irregularities.

The briefing coincided with the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, an event Gachagua dismissed as a “sideshow” designed to provide the President with political “affirmation” amidst rising domestic pressure.

Appeals to the UN and France

Gachagua directed specific, pointed messages to UN Secretary-General António Guterres and French President Emmanuel Macron, framing President Ruto as a destabilizing force in the region.

• Message to the UN: Gachagua labeled Ruto as “the greatest threat to Kenyan democracy,” alleging that under his watch, Kenya has become a “global hub for abductions and human trafficking.”

• Transnational Repression: He cited the 2025 abduction of Tanzanian journalist Maria Sarungi in Nairobi, alongside cases involving Turkish asylum seekers and Ugandan opposition figure Kizza Besigye, as evidence of a dangerous trend in “transnational repression.”

• Regional Security: He further accused the President of exacerbating regional conflicts, specifically mentioning the crisis in Sudan.

The “Mau Summit” Road Controversy

A significant portion of Gachagua’s address focused on Kenya’s bilateral ties with France. He alleged that French firms were the beneficiaries of a highly irregular compensation payout following the cancellation of the Nairobi-Nakuru-Mau Summit road project.

“Mr. Emmanuel Macron, you are an accomplice,” Gachagua claimed, referring to the fiscal fallout of the cancelled contract.

Key Allegations:

• The Contract: Originally awarded to French firms for Ksh 159.27 billion in 2020, the project was cancelled by the Ruto administration before construction began.

• The Diversion: Gachagua claimed that Ksh 7.3 billion to Ksh 7.5 billion was diverted from the Fuel Levy Fund—a move he says was flagged by the Auditor General—to pay compensation to these French firms.

• The Switch: He alleged the project was subsequently handed to a Chinese contractor at a higher cost, despite a reduction in the project’s overall scope.

Shifting Alliances: The Ksh 150 Billion Deals

Gachagua’s criticisms come just as President Ruto and President Macron finalized 11 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) worth approximately Ksh 150 billion. These agreements are set to overhaul Kenya’s infrastructure and energy sectors.