- Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi publicly confronted former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua at a rally in West Pokot county
- Wandayi accused Gachagua of extorting oil companies during his time as Deputy President and defended the government's authority over fuel pricing
- Gachagua had linked a recent fuel price increase to political bribery, claiming diesel rose by KSh 9 and petrol by KSh 12
Nancy Odindo is a current affairs writer at Tuko.co.ke (joined in 2023). She has one year of experience in print and more than five years in digital media.
Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi launched a direct and combative response to former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, during a public rally in Konyao, West Pokot county.
Source: Facebook
Speaking from atop a vehicle before a large crowd, Wandayi addressed Gachagua by name and challenged him to direct any fuel-related grievances his way rather than at President William Ruto.
Wandayi defends fuel pricing process
Wandayi insisted that Kenya has never experienced a fuel shortage, including during periods of instability in the Middle East, and that the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) holds the legal mandate to set fuel prices in the country.
"Setting fuel prices is the responsibility of the EPRA institution, in accordance with the law," Wandayi said, adding that Gachagua lacked the understanding to grasp this because, in his view, the DCP leader had been an ineffective legislator.
"You are a one-term MP. Even when you were in parliament, there was not a single meaningful thing you said there," he declared.
The CS further alleged that Gachagua had engaged in extortion targeting oil companies while still serving as deputy president, a claim he delivered without producing supporting evidence at the rally.
Wandayi issues personal challenge to Gachagua
Wandayi closed his remarks with a pointed challenge, urging Gachagua to confront him directly rather than attack the presidency.
"If you have a problem with them, face me. Face me. And I will handle you appropriately," he said, drawing a clear line between himself and Ruto on the matter.
Gachagua, has not rsponded to the extortionist allegations levelled against him at the time of this publication.
What Gachagua said about fuel prices
Meanwhile, the remarks came after Gachagua publicly accused the government of ordering a fuel price increase to fund voter bribery, claiming diesel had gone up by KSh 9 and petrol by KSh 12.
Source: Facebook
He alleged that Wandayi had been directed to hold a press conference attributing the rise to global market prices. Gachagua described those justifications as "pure lies and conmanship."
He further claimed that Wandayi's press conference was deigned to provide cover for what he characterised as politically motivated cash distribution, suggesting that Ruto was under growing pressure ahead of the August 2027 General Election.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
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