President William Ruto’s hesitance to endorse the impeachment motion against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is notable, even as pressure mounts from Mount Kenya MPs who are pushing for action. Despite powerful government forces supporting the DP’s removal, the primary antagonism stems from leaders in his own region, who feel that Gachagua’s approach is dismissive and detrimental to their political interests.
The anger towards Gachagua intensified after he reportedly fielded candidates against some of these MPs and emphasized his connection to the Mt. Kenya region in a way that could provoke resentment from other parts of the country. A gathering of 48 MPs in Nyahururu, led by National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichungwah, openly criticized Gachagua and expressed support for Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki.
Didmus Baraza, the Kimilili MP and a key figure in the push against Gachagua, cites several constitutional violations and corruption claims as justifications for the impeachment motion. Notably, Baraza’s 40-page motion alleges that Gachagua demanded Sh10 billion from President Ruto for the Mt. Kenya votes in the last general election, with specific claims about payments per vote.
Gachagua’s actions have reportedly angered some of Ruto’s long-time allies, who feel sidelined. Tensions are exacerbated by claims that Gachagua has insulted and bullied MPs from the region.
In response to the situation, President Ruto is expected to convene a Parliamentary Group Meeting with all Kenya Kwanza MPs to address the impeachment motion spearheaded by Baraza. However, sources indicate Ruto remains reluctant to permit Gachagua’s ousting, suggesting he faces external pressures regarding the issue.
Before his trip to the United States, President William Ruto held discussions with a group of business leaders and clergy from the Mt. Kenya region who urged him not to support the impeachment of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. They warned that such a move could incite unnecessary tension and create divisions among leaders in the region.
Didmus Baraza, who is spearheading the impeachment motion, confirmed that he plans to file it this week for Speaker Moses Wetang’ula to consider. He stated, “The motion is with my legal team who are doing the final touches, and once finalized, I will present it to the Speaker for consideration.”
In response to the looming motion, Gachagua described it as “an act of subversion,” asserting his right to complete his five-year term as stipulated by law. He emphasized the importance of respecting the electoral mandate, reminding everyone that he and Ruto were elected on a joint ticket for a full term. “As we do whatever we are doing in the political space, it is my prayer that we should always respect the will of the people, which is supreme,” he said.
Gachagua also alleged that there have been attempts to bribe MPs to support the impeachment motion, claiming that some were offered Sh5 million to sign. He noted that both County Woman Representative Njeri Maina and Senator James Murango declined these offers, reaffirming their loyalty.
The Deputy President urged Ruto to intervene and discourage MPs from pursuing the impeachment motion, warning that it would not be well-received by the Kenyan populace. Gachagua and his supporters have accused Ruto of secretly orchestrating the efforts to remove him, suggesting a coordinated campaign involving several MPs in Parliament.
“I was elected by the people of Kenya, not by the president. Both the president and I were elected on one ticket and you chose Ruto because I was there. If Gachagua was not there, you would not have chosen him,” Gachagua said.
“If he’s tired of Mt Kenya votes, let him tell us. We took him as our own and voted for him earnestly. He should stop telling the MPs to kick us out of office,” he added.
In the past weeks, the DP has been touring Nairobi and Mt Kenya region, rallying.
