Impeached Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has warned that his nominated successor, Kithure Kindiki, will face the same fate if he dares challenge the powers that be after assuming office.
President William Ruto nominated Kindiki as his new deputy on Friday, following Gachagua’s ouster by both the National Assembly and the Senate. However, Kindiki’s swearing-in has been delayed due to court orders blocking the process, pending the resolution of cases challenging the impeachment.
Speaking on Sunday after being discharged from Karen Hospital in Nairobi, where he was admitted on Thursday while the Senate voted to remove him from office, Gachagua dismissed his impeachment as a “charade.”
“The charade we are being treated to is get rid of an elected deputy president and appoint a control freak,” he told a press conference.
Gachagua, who argues he is being persecuted for speaking the truth to power, described the Interior Cabinet Secretary as a meek professional who cannot “cannot ask a question” or “say anything.”
“I am sure if he succeeds, he will be asked to sign an undated resignation letter so that if he starts asking questions he can be told to resign.”
During the media conference, Gachagua accused President William Ruto of betrayal and claimed there were two assassination attempts on him before the impeachment was tabled in Parliament.
“I don’t feel safe. On August 30th undercover cover police agents in Kisumu entered my room and one of them tried to poison my food but we detected it and we were able to escape. I was supposed to be killed through poisoning,” claimed Gachagua.
“On September 3rd in Nyeri, NIS officers came to Nyeri and tried to poison food belonging to me and Kikuyu elders. I reported the matter to NIS and asked the officers assigned to my office to leave. After attempts to assassinate me failed, this impeachment motion was hatched.”
He said he did not know President Ruto “could be that vicious,” adding he was shocked by how a man he “helped to be President… believed in” could turn against him.
At present, the High Court in Kerugoya has issued orders barring Kindiki from assuming the DP’s office pending the hearing and determination of a case filed by David Munyi Mathenge and Peter Kamotho are of “great national importance and urgency.”
On Friday, the court ordered that the case file be forwarded to Chief Justice Martha Koome for the appointment of a bench of High Court judges to preside over the matter.
Additionally, the High Court suspended the Senate’s resolution to uphold Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s impeachment. Justice Chacha Mwita ruled that Gachagua’s petition raised significant legal and public interest issues, prompting the issuance of a conservatory order to halt the impeachment’s implementation. This includes blocking the appointment of Gachagua’s replacement until the case is mentioned on October 24.
Mwita also directed Chief Justice Koome to form a bench to hear the petition.
