Kenyans Lecture Gachagua After Comparing Ruto to Ugandan Dictator Idi Amin Dada
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Former Deputy President and DCP Party Leader Rigathi Gachagua has sparked reactions online after comparing President William Ruto’s administration to the regime of former Ugandan dictator Idi Amin Dada.
In a post shared on September 5, he recalled Amin’s decision in August 1972 to give foreigners of Indian, Bangladeshi and Pakistani descent 90 days to leave Uganda.
Rigathi said roughly 80,000 foreign investors were expelled, with their investments taken over by the state and allocated to soldiers and Amin’s concubines.
Gachagua Warns Kenya Over Foreign Investors
According to Gachagua, Amin justified the expulsion by accusing the investors of failing to integrate into local communities and “milking the Ugandan economy dry.”
He argued that the decision severely damaged Uganda’s economy, claiming that other investors also left while potential foreign investors avoided the country until Amin was overthrown by Tanzanian Defence Forces.
Gachagua then drew a comparison with Kenya, accusing Ruto of causing panic among foreign investors.
He alleged that investors who have operated in Kenya for more than a century were being pressured to close their businesses and leave the country.
“Unfortunately, 54 years later, Kenya’s new dictator Ruto has caused panic among foreign investors by closing down investments and ordering investors who have been in the country for over a hundred years to close down their investments and leave the country,” Gachagua said.
Claims Over Indian Businesses
Gachagua said Indian investors had approached him to share their concerns over the situation.
He claimed that more than 400 Indian businessmen had shut down their investments after Ruto and his alleged “tribal cronies” demanded shares from them.
He further alleged that properties owned by Indian families whose leases were expiring were being taken over by Ruto with the assistance of Lands Principal Secretary Nixon Korir.
Gachagua also accused Ruto of embarking on what he described as an “historic high looting spree” after intelligence reports allegedly indicated that he would lose the August 10, 2027, presidential election.
Tata Chemicals Claims
Gachagua also mentioned Tata Chemicals Magadi, claiming that the company had been targeted after refusing to pay a Ksh 9 billion bribe or surrender 40% of its shares to Ruto.
He claimed the situation was contributing to an economic crisis and creating fear among foreign investors.
“As we speak, Kenya is facing an economic crisis of unprecedented magnitude; foreign investors are now in panic while new investors are afraid on investing in Kenya,” he said.
Gachagua said investors he had met in the United States had told him they could not risk investing in Kenya because of what was happening in the country.
Also Read:Panic and Fear Grip Foreigners Ahead of Crackdown on Small Businesses
Rigathi Appeals to International Community
The former Deputy President appealed to the international community to intervene and ensure foreign investors’ interests were protected.
“On behalf of our Kenyan people I appeal to the International community to reign on Mr. William Ruto; he must be stopped from taking over foreign investments and assure investors that their investments are safe,” he said.
Gachagua concluded by arguing that Kenya does not belong to the President.
“Kenya is not William Ruto’s personal property or his animal farm. Kenya exists in the community of Nations.”
Also Read:Drama as Governor Lenku Lectured in Front of Ruto, Accused of Being Gachagua’s Mole
Kenyans Challenge Rigathi
Gachagua’s remarks attracted mixed reactions, with some Kenyans challenging his comparison between Ruto and Amin.
Oloitoko questioned the issue surrounding Tata Chemicals Magadi, saying the company owns 240,000 acres associated with the soda ash mineral resource in Kajiado County.
“Tata Chemicals Magadi Ltd owns 240,000 acres of land associated with the soda ash mineral resource in Kajiado County. The mining company actively uses and occupies 50,000 & more than 190,000 acres is currently unutilized for soda ash extraction or active operations,” he said.
Odongo Josh defended Iddi Amin and criticised Gachagua.
“Mr. Amin was and still is the best president Uganda has ever had. He is our hero. Unlike you, Amin was not corrupt. He built great institutions for Ugandans and he deeply cared for the best interest of Ugandans,” Odongo Josh said.
Moset wrote,“To imagine you were actually a DP makes me realize politics in Africa is very sad and tragic,” Moset said.
Another tweep Psoroi, questioned Gachagua’s claim that he had spoken to investors in the United States.
“Which investors have you met in the yues? Elon Musk? Ama Njoroge from Kenol whose US visa is almost expiring and he is thinking of investing in Mutumba business in Karatina?”
Some defend Ruto
Ali abdi defended Ruto, arguing that the President’s concerns were about foreigners taking jobs that Kenyans could perform.
“@WilliamsRuto has no issues with investor’s who create jobs and bring much revenues to our economy,but he is talking about foreigners taking jobs that @Kenyans can do,” Ali abdi said.
Kasonald also defended Amin’s decision to expel Asians from Uganda.
“Don’t call Iddi Amin a dictator that chased Asians. Those guys controlled our economy 100% and were sending their money outside our country. This was very risky to our economy,” Kasonald said.
He added that Amin had told them to become Ugandans and claimed they were compensated.
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A photo collage of President William Ruto addressing the residents of Kajiado and TATA mining company. PHOTO/PCS/TATA