In October 2024, Kenya’s political landscape saw a significant upheaval with the impeachment of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua due to a deteriorating relationship with President William Ruto. This marked a historic moment in Kenya, as Gachagua became the first deputy president to be impeached since the enactment of the 2010 constitution. Tensions between the two leaders had escalated over accusations of betrayal and differences in political priorities. Their fallout reflects deeper issues within Kenyan politics, where allegiances can quickly shift due to power struggles.
Following Gachagua’s impeachment, rumors circulated online suggesting a reconciliation between him and Ruto. A particular TikTok post claimed they had reunited and vowed to collaborate moving forward. However, a fact-checking investigation by the AFP debunked these claims, revealing that the accompanying images in the post were outdated and used in a misleading context. The audio featured a previous Ruto speech from the 2022 national prayer breakfast, where he asked for forgiveness from Kenyans and his predecessor, Uhuru Kenyatta—not Gachagua. This was indicative of the ongoing mistrust and manipulation in political narratives.
The strained relationship is a reflection of a repeating pattern in Kenyan politics. Ruto himself had once faced a similar predicament during his tenure as deputy president under Kenyatta, ultimately leading to a public falling out between the two. Ruto had publicly condemned the mistreatment of deputies and claimed he would ensure Gachagua was not subjected to similar disrespect. Yet, as the political environment evolved, Gachagua became embroiled in accusations of disloyalty, which culminated in his impeachment.
On November 16, 2024, Ruto and Gachagua met for the first time since the impeachment during a church event for Bishop Kimani Ndung’u in Embu County. The atmosphere was tense; they did not engage in any conversation, highlighting the extent of their divide. Notably, this event also marked the first occasion since Ruto’s inauguration in September 2022 that he shared a platform with Kenyatta, suggesting a complex interplay of political alliances even amidst the fractures within his own administration.
Fact-checking efforts revealed that the images used in the disputed TikTok post were taken from earlier events and were not representative of recent interactions. The media outlets that initially reported on these images confirmed they depicted moments from the earlier phases of Ruto and Gachagua’s political partnership before their fallout. This manipulation of visuals not only spread misinformation but also demonstrated the vulnerabilities within political communications in Kenya, where outdated content can be repurposed to fit current narratives.
In the backdrop of this tumultuous political period, the larger implications for governance and leadership in Kenya are significant. The impeachment of Gachagua is a stark reminder of the fragility of political alliances in a system that heavily relies on personal loyalty. As political actors navigate these challenges, the public increasingly relies on accurate representations of events. This case serves as a crucial example of the role misinformation can play in shaping public perception and the importance of responsible communication in political discourse.