President William Ruto has told off his former deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, following the latter's claim that he is investing in Meru County.
Speaking in Meru during his political tour, Gachagua claimed that Ruto had purchased a piece of land on which he was putting up a luxury hotel.
The Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) party leader accused the president of denying Meru development projects and instead putting up private investments to supposedly rip off the resident, adding that a highway was being constructed to the hotel using the taxpayer's money.
"Instead of building us roads to take our farm produce to the factories and dairy, he's building a road to his hotel," Gachagua said.
Clapping back, Ruto dismissed Gachagua, saying he had every right to partake in investments in any part of the country, Meru included.
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Seeming to suggest Gachagua's claims as true, the president said his investments would contribute to the growth of Meru.
Ruto was addressing a rally in Makutano on Saturday, June 21, after gracing the 10th Annual Dairy Farmers Field Day at the Meru ASK Showground.
"I also belong to Meru, and I will soon have a residence here; what will they do? Meru is part of Kenya. I heard them spreading propaganda that I have become an investor in Meru. If I decide to invest in Meru, what is the problem with that? We will build Meru, and there is no problem when I contribute to the growth of Meru," Ruto said.
His deputy, Kithure Kindiki, joined in the abrasive response to Gachagua, asking the president to invest in the county and anywhere else across the country.
"Mr President, if you got a place to invest in Meru, go ahead, and do it in other towns where you can," Kindiki said.
Gachagua has lately been camping in Mt Kenya to decampaign Ruto, whom he accuses of betraying the region after its massive support to him in the 2022 vote.
Kindiki has vowed to counter Gachagua's wave, assuring Ruto of containing the region away from the DCP party leader's influence.
