Aldai Constituency MP Marianne Kitany has revealed key details surrounding the impeachment of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, emphasizing his inaccessibility and failure to address concerns raised by lawmakers. Speaking during a televised interview on October 23, 2024, Kitany, who previously worked as an aide to President William Ruto, highlighted that the Deputy President’s office was often unavailable during Gachagua’s tenure, leading to growing frustrations among MPs.
Kitany supported Gachagua’s impeachment, stating that it was driven by the National Assembly, with Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse acting as the presenter of the motion. She rejected suggestions of external influence in the impeachment, asserting that Gachagua had ample time, not only during the impeachment process but also beforehand, to address the concerns raised.
She explained that Gachagua’s inaccessibility played a major role in the decision to pursue his removal, as MPs had struggled to reach him for two years. Kitany noted that many MPs could not even secure meetings or calls with Gachagua, despite repeated requests for him to address issues of national unity and to act as a unifying figure in the absence of President Ruto.
“For a long time, even before the impeachment process, we had raised issues about the need for unity. The Office of the Deputy President was not available to address our concerns. If MPs can’t access that office, it ceases to function as a unifying body,” Kitany explained. She emphasized that the two-year window Gachagua had to respond to these concerns was more than enough, but his lack of engagement with lawmakers ultimately led to his impeachment.
Hon. Marianne Kitany: The office of the Deputy President was never available. As MPs, we could not go to raise issues. He never even picked up phone calls.#NewDawn pic.twitter.com/oRumf00Bla
— K24 TV (@K24Tv) October 23, 2024
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is fighting to block the appointment of Kithure Kindiki as his successor, having previously secured conservatory orders that prevent the swearing-in of Kindiki. A three-judge bench is set to decide today, October 23, 2024, at 3:30 p.m., whether they will continue presiding over the case. The judges—Eric Ogola, Anthony Mrima, and Freda Mugambi—scheduled the ruling after extensive submissions were made about how the bench was constituted.
Gachagua’s legal team, led by Senior Counsel Paul Muite, argued that only the Chief Justice has the authority to empanel a bench to hear such cases, raising concerns over the legitimacy of the current bench. On the other hand, Solicitor General Shadrack Mose, who filed the case challenging the conservatory orders, seeks to overturn them to allow for Kindiki’s appointment.
Mose argued that the orders, which were issued without a full hearing, go against the national interest, as the constitution does not allow for a prolonged vacancy in the Office of the Deputy President. He emphasized the need for Kindiki’s swift swearing-in, as the delay caused by the orders hampers the country’s governance.
