Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has refuted claims that his children, Kelvin and Keith, purchased the iconic TreeTops hotel in Aberdare National Park. Speaking to reporters in the Rift Valley on Monday, Gachagua clarified that his children had leased the hotel from Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) and did not buy it, contrary to rumors.
He emphasized that the hotel remains under KWS ownership, and his children took out a loan to lease it. He further noted that the hotel has employed 58 people under their management.
Gachagua also suggested that these allegations are part of a wider effort to undermine him ahead of his impeachment proceedings. He expressed confidence in his ability to counter the accusations, describing them as baseless and politically motivated.
Meanwhile, Gachagua faced a legal setback when multiple attempts to block the impeachment motion against him were dismissed. Former Senator Cleophas Malala’s petition to halt the process was rejected by the High Court, with Justice Bahati Mwamuye directing the National Assembly to respond by Thursday, October 3, 2024. Malala has until Friday, October 4, to submit his response.
Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah confirmed that the impeachment motion would be tabled on Tuesday, with 302 MPs reportedly backing the motion as of Sunday. The motion, which requires the support of 233 MPs to pass, accuses Gachagua of violating several constitutional articles, including Article 10, for making inciteful statements, and other articles governing his role as Deputy President. He is also accused of illegally acquiring assets in Nyeri, Nairobi, and Kilifi counties.
If the impeachment motion succeeds, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula will send the resolution to Senate Speaker Amason Kingi for further action.
