By Edwin Tumbo
Collins, an X user, shared a post on September 26, 2026 featuring a newspaper clipping with the headline, “Ruto, Gachagua Quietly Meet in New York to Discuss Political Differences.”
The claim has also been circulated on Facebook.
Background
President Ruto travelled to New York on September 19, 2026, for the UN General Assembly (UNGA) meetings that began on September 8, 2026. Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua also arrived in Kansas City on September 18, 2026, accompanied by his wife, Reverend Dorcas Rigathi. The two were in the US at the same time, which led to the claim circulating online.
The National Assembly impeached Rigathi Gachagua, and the Senate upheld 5 of the 11 charges that removed him from office on October 8, 2024. This led to their fallout with President William Ruto, and Gachagua joined the opposition.
Verification
Credible news outlets, including Citizen TV Kenya and KTN News, did not publish or report the alleged information. Piga Firimbi also reviewed the official communication channels of President William Ruto and Rigathi Gachagua and found no record of either sharing the information.
The byline, HP, is not verifiable and cannot be associated with any credible newspaper. Africa Check’s fact-check also finds no evidence that Gachagua and Ruto met. The above findings confirm that the content in the ‘‘newspaper clipping’’ is vague and lacks important details such as the exact sources from which the information was obtained.
Verdict
The claim that Ruto and Gachagua quietly met in New York to discuss political differences is FALSE.
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