President William Ruto has laughed at former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua for lacking excessive education qualification, which according to him is important for anyone holding the deputy president’s position.

Speaking on Saturday, September 13, 2025, at Statehouse Nairobi, when he met over 10,000 teachers, Ruto noted that Gachagua often admitted of not being educated, something which he knew would derail the administration’s delivery of services.

“Nilikua na mwingine analalamika, hajasoma, hahaha, nikaona ataniangusha,” Ruto said.

Ruto who was in the company of his deputy, Kithure Kindiki, maintained that the success of a president depends on the academic qualification of his assistant.

He lauded Kindiki’s academic accomplishments reiterating that if you ever want to succeed as president, then you must choose a deputy who is more educated than you.

“Huyu naibu wangu mnamwona aje ni noma si noma ni fire si fire. Unajua ukitaka kufaulu unatafuta deputy amesoma kuliko wewe,” Ruto told the teachers.

“If you want to succeed, you put people around you who are more intelligent than you. Sasa ile wanakusaidia kushine, you take the credit, and wao ndio wanafanya job,” he added.

Ruto’s comments come barely a day after he made self-praising statements, claiming to be the most learned president Kenyans have ever elected.

He asserted that his 15-year tenure as MP and 10 years as deputy president has equipped him with knowledge on how to run the country.

“I have got an opportunity, and a very unique one. Among those who came after me, some were old; I am not old. I have enough experience; I have been an MP for 15 years,” he said.

“I was a deputy president for ten years; is there any other experience I should be waiting for? I am learned and well-educated. I am probably the most learned Kenyan president ever elected in Kenya.”