Kenya, July 22 -- In a fiery address in Boston on July 20, 2025, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua exposed alleged business ties between President William Ruto and Sam Mburu, husband of Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika, claiming Mburu wields undue influence over Nakuru police operations.
The Gachagua Sam Mburu-Ruto business ties revelation came hours after police tear-gassed a convoy of Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leaders, including Nyandarua Senator John Methu, who were blocked from attending a church service at Subukia AIC in Nakuru County.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has intensified his political offensive against President William Ruto, alleging that Sam Mburu, a prominent Nakuru businessman and husband of Governor Susan Kihika, leverages a close business partnership with Ruto to exert control over police operations in Nakuru County.
Speaking to the Kenyan diaspora in Boston on July 20, 2025, Gachagua claimed that police officers confided in him about Mburu's influence, stating, "Sam Mburu is giving instructions to police, acting like the President of Nakuru".
The Gachagua Sam Mburu-Ruto business ties allegations surfaced after a tense incident in Subukia, where DCP leaders, including Deputy Party Leader Cleophas Malala and Senator John Methu, were tear-gassed and blocked by police roadblocks after attending a church service at Subukia AIC.
The Subukia incident occurred when police halted the DCP convoy, citing an unauthorized rally, despite the group's claim of attending a church service followed by a meet-the-people tour.
Senator John Methu, visibly agitated, argued that all Kenyans have equal rights, accusing the police of selective enforcement.
Videos circulating on social media showed officers lobbing teargas, with Malala and Methu later mocking the police for inadvertently tear-gassing themselves.
Gachagua, absent due to his U.S. trip, praised his team's resilience, stating, "Your dedication keeps the liberation course in top gear."
Gachagua's claims about Mburu's business ventures with Ruto focus on his long-standing role in sugar importation and real estate. The Standard and KDRTV report that Mburu, a tycoon with interests in 62 flats in Kitengela, 43 in Embakasi, and assets in Nakuru and Mombasa, has been a key financier for Ruto's campaigns since 2013, including Kihika's 2017 senatorial and 2022 gubernatorial bids.
Gachagua alleged that Mburu's influence stems from these ties, enabling him to intimidate officers with transfer threats, a claim Kapsaret MP Oscar Sudi dismissed as "baseless," defending Mburu's 25-year business record in sugar trade under multiple administrations.
Social media posts amplified Gachagua's accusations, listing Mburu's ventures with Ruto, though specifics remain unverified.
Mburu, dubbed "Kiongozi," married Kihika in a high-profile 2020 ceremony attended by Ruto, then Deputy President, who led dowry negotiations. His business portfolio includes Landmark Freight Services, generating Sh10 million monthly, and extensive real estate holdings.
However, Mburu's reputation faced scrutiny in 2018 when he was arrested for a Sh64 million tax evasion case involving undervalued imports, alongside Kenya Bureau of Standards officials.
Gachagua's allegations suggest Mburu's influence extends beyond business, with police reportedly acting under his orders to disrupt DCP events, a charge Kihika has not directly addressed.
The Subukia church service disruption, part of DCP's outreach to popularize the party, shows escalating tensions within the Kenya Kwanza coalition.
Local media reported that DCP leaders, including Laikipia Senator John Kinyua, used the rally to urge voter registration for 2027 to oust Ruto, accusing the government of suppressing dissent.
Kihika, a staunch Ruto ally, previously dismissed Gachagua's anti-Ruto campaign as "hot air" in a May 2025 interview, defending Ruto's leadership and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki's ability to unite Mt. Kenya.
Supporters highlighted Gachagua's "intelligence" on Ruto's inner circle, suggesting his diaspora engagements bolster his influence.
The Gachagua Nakuru police controversy has reignited debates about political interference in security operations. Local daily noted similar disruptions of DCP events in Kakamega, where police dispersed supporters, prompting Gachagua to reject claims of DCP being a tribal party.
The former DP's focus on Nakuru, a Ruto stronghold, signals a strategic push to challenge the president's influence in the Rift Valley ahead of 2027. For those seeking Rigathi Gachagua's latest news, the Mburu-Ruto business allegations and Subukia incident highlight a deepening rift, with public sentiment on social media split between support for Gachagua's expose and scepticism about his motives.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Bana Kenya.