President William Ruto and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua continue to trade barbs over Ruto’s development tour of Western Kenya, which drew criticism from Gachagua.

 Speaking in Busia on Thursday, January 23, Ruto dismissed leaders he described as corrupt, incompetent and tribal, saying they had no place in Kenya’s leadership.

“Those removed because of incompetence, corruption and tribalism now want to lecture us on Kenya’s direction. There is no room for such individuals,” Ruto said.

Ruto stated that Kenya was for all citizens, vowing to stand firm against divisive politics.

“This Kenya is not a country of shares; it is for all Kenyans. We have built a government that unites everyone,” Ruto added.

Gachagua had earlier accused Ruto of neglecting key regional issues during the tour.

Speaking during a TikTok Live session on Thursday, Gachagua said, “The President and his team go to a region, and instead of discussing roads, water or struggling sugar factories, they are busy discussing one person—me.”

He urged the government to focus on tangible projects, including reviving sugar factories, improving road infrastructure and addressing healthcare and water shortages.

 “These issues should take precedence over political matters,” he added.

Ruto has spent four days in Western Kenya launching and inspecting projects, including issuing bonuses to sugarcane farmers at Mumias Sugar Company, the tarmacking of Mumias-Musanda road and flood control initiatives in Budalang’i.

Other initiatives include the Lower Nzoia Irrigation Project, the foundation stone laying for Khwisero Mother Child Level IV Hospital in Kakamega County and the groundbreaking for Luanda Modern Market in Vihiga County.

Gachagua, however, argued that these efforts risk being overshadowed by political grandstanding, calling for a sharper focus on the region’s pressing challenges.