Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has vowed not to keep quiet about what he describes as underhand dealings to remove him from office.
In a televised interview on Citizen TV on Friday night September 20, 2024, Gachagua, the country’s second-in-command, declared that his rally in Nairobi today marks the beginning of many more to come, as he promised to disclose the details of a plot to oust him.
“Going forward in the next two weeks I will be going to my supporters and telling them what is going on, what is being planned, what is going to happen so that they are aware,” Gachagua said.
“You see we are elected by the people, we have a responsibility to always inform your employer what is going on so that they know, so that they are aware of what is going on because people wonder what is going on.”
Employed by people
Gachagua pointedly remarked that it was not President William Ruto who gave him his position, but the people of Kenya.
In his view, the people, not the president or parliament, hold the ultimate authority over his office.
“We have a responsibility as leaders to inform the people because they are the ones who have given us these jobs,” he reiterated.
“I was not given this job by the president, I was not given [this job] by Members of Parliament. The president nominated me and proposed me for confirmation by the people of Kenya.”
“The people of Kenya by a popular vote confirmed President William Ruto’s nominee, Rigathi Gachagua, as the fit person for the job. But the people who gave me this job are the people of Kenya,” Gachagua added.
In the interview, Gachagua reiterated that he feels compelled to inform the public about what he believes is a conspiracy to impeach him.
He promised more rallies to address this issue and inform his supporters about the said plots.
“And therefore if there are issues along the way that I find disturbing, that I find can cause political instability in this country, that I find it can be intrusive and that can disrupt our development agenda, that can disrupt our political instability as a country, I have a responsibility to go to the people who voted for me and explain to them exactly what is happening,” he remarked.
Rallies galore
Gachagua made it clear that he intends to hold numerous rallies in the coming days to make his case to his supporters, signalling that he will not be silenced or intimidated by those plotting against him.
“And that I will do, and I have started today and I will be doing that along the way because I am answerable to some people. I cannot just sleep here in Karen, meetings are going on at night, people are being intimidated, people are being coerced to disrupt my term, to stop me from doing my work and I just sit here, I cannot,” Gachagua asserted.
When asked about his relationship with President Ruto, Gachagua downplayed any serious discord, though his tone suggested underlying tensions.
“My relationship with the president is ok. We have quite a good working relationship. We work well,” he said.
Rein in anarchists
Despite this, Gachagua disclosed that he has urged the president to rein in certain individuals in the government who he claims are publicly disrespecting him, pointing to a growing sense of unease.
“I have asked him to put his house in order, so I believe he will put his house in order because what is going on is not sustainable, it is not right,” Gachagua said.
“It is very insulting to the people of Kenya really to get the country into the kind of toxic politics that is going on, the kind of insult on the altar that are going on, the kind of disrespect to the deputy president who is elected by the people of Kenya, in front of the president, in front of churchgoers. What is going on is very, very unhealthy, it is not right and it should come to an end,” he said.
Gachagua’s remarks have drawn attention to a brewing political storm in Kenya. His statements have heightened tensions within the country’s political scene, leaving many wondering what might happen next.
The deputy president concluded by assuring his supporters that he would continue speaking out and standing up for his office.
The coming weeks could see heightened political activity as Gachagua moves to defend his position amid growing uncertainty.
