“Let Our Children Be!” – Ruto Tells Gachagua After Grade 10 Placements Comments
President William Ruto has retaliated against former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over the placement of pupils in top-performing national schools.
Ruto accused him of fostering hatred and tribalism through the education system.
Ruto confronted Gachagua on Thursday, January 8, at the NYOTA capital disbursement event in Eldoret, Uasin-Gishu County, and urged him to keep tribal politics out of schools.
“We do not want any county, any region or community, or any person to be left behind; we must move together. Let us not accept tribal politics,” Ruto stated.
Adding, “Let nobody divide you based on being a Kikuyu, a Luo, a Luhya or a Kalenjin. Someone who does not have an agenda will sell you tribal politics.”
Ruto fires back at Gachagua over school placements: You want to divide our children? Let them be. Let them learn! pic.twitter.com/Yo1JxSnJIa
— Capital FM Kenya (@CapitalFMKenya) January 8, 2026
He accused his former deputy of seeking to politicize the ongoing Grade 10 school placement along tribal lines, claiming that such efforts could undermine educational fairness.
The President emphasized that all learners, regardless of clan or community, need equal treatment, accusing Gachagua of channeling his political desperation onto students.
“They have now gone to our schools to divide our children in schools. How desperate are you? Let our children be. Let our children learn,” Ruto posed.
“Those children are Kenyans regardless of the community they belong to.”
Ruto’s comments come just two days after Gachagua urged Mt Kenya school heads to prioritise Grade 10 students from the region.
During his remarks, the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader questioned why kids from other regions were being placed in high-performing schools on Mt Kenya.
ALSO READ:
- REVEALED: Countries Exploiting Kenyans With Fraudulent Recruitment [LIST]
- NTSA Issues New Data On Driving Licenses, Urges Applicants To Track Progress
- UN’s Antonio Gutierrez Set To Visit Kenya Next Week For MAJOR Expansion
- Ruto Issues Orders For 44,000 Intern Teachers After End of Contract
- “Kenya Is Not Exporting Blood!” – Health Ministry Says After Viral Export Report
Gachagua criticized the placement criteria as unjust and confusing, relating it to the larger difficulties confronting the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
“Other people are being brought to our schools here, like Mang’u, Alliance and other top schools, while our children are being placed in lower-ranked schools despite having higher grades,” he said.
“There is total confusion in the education system. Parents do not know what to do, yet the President is claiming he wants to take us to Singapore,” Gachagua added.
His remarks sparked widespread criticism from the education stakeholders and the political class, with some calling for his summoning for allegedly making inflammatory sentiments.
“Let Our Children Be!” – Ruto Tells Gachagua After Grade 10 Placements Comments
