Lawyer Steve Ogola has stated that Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s plea for forgiveness from President William Ruto can be seen as an admission of guilt.
“That apology is an express admission of guilt. We cannot debate the quality of the apology,” Ogola remarked during a panel discussion on Citizen TV on Monday.
The Deputy President, who is set to appear before parliament on Tuesday to defend himself, faces accusations of gross misconduct, violation of the constitution, corruption, and insubordination to President Ruto. On Sunday, Gachagua made a public appeal for forgiveness from Ruto, MPs, and the Kenyan public.
“I want to say to my brother, President William Ruto, if, in our zeal to work, I have wronged you, please find it in your heart to forgive me. If my spouse, in her duties with the boychild, has wronged you in any way, please find it in your heart to forgive her,” Gachagua pleaded.
According to Ogola, this apology indicates Gachagua’s acknowledgment of the charges brought against him. “If he is apologizing in the context of those pending charges against him, we must take that apology for what it means—it is an admission of guilt,” Ogola stated.
In the meantime, Gachagua has assembled a team of 20 advocates, including senior counsels, to defend him both in parliament and in court as the House prepares to consider his impeachment motion next week.
The Deputy President has also claimed that part of the multi-billion-shilling property linked to him belongs to his late brother, former Nyeri Governor Nderitu Gachagua, as part of his defense.
