Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has launched a sharp attack on President William Ruto’s renewed push to combat drug abuse, accusing the administration of hypocrisy and selective enforcement.
Rigathi Gachagua argued that any serious war on narcotics must begin within the highest levels of government, alleging that two Cabinet Secretaries are themselves linked to the drug trade.
Gachagua’s remarks come against the backdrop of the government’s proposed Drugs Law Amendment Bill, which seeks to impose stiffer penalties on traffickers and dismantle drug networks across the country.
The bill has been framed by the Ruto administration as a bold response to rising cases of addiction, especially among young people in urban centres and coastal regions.
File Courtesy: Kenyan co.ke
However, Gachagua contends that legislative toughness rings hollow if senior officials implicated in drug-related allegations remain in office.
“Before lecturing Kenyans on discipline and punishment, the President must first clean his own house,” Gachagua said.
While he did not name the ministers in question or provide evidence publicly, the former DP insisted that the information is well known within political and security circles.
The accusations have injected new controversy into an already sensitive policy debate.
Drug abuse remains a major social and public health challenge in Kenya, with authorities acknowledging the role of powerful financiers and international cartels in sustaining the trade.
Past reports by parliamentary committees and civil society organisations have repeatedly warned that political protection has allowed major traffickers to operate with impunity.
Legal analysts note that while the Drugs Law Amendment Bill could strengthen enforcement, its success will ultimately depend on political will and institutional independence.
Laws alone, they argue, cannot defeat narcotics networks if those in positions of power are perceived to be shielded from scrutiny.