Omtatah: Gachagua’s impeachment was witch hunt
Presidential aspirant and Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah has condemned the impeachment of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, terming it a politically motivated witch hunt that lacked legal basis.
Speaking during an interview on a local television station on Tuesday, August 5, Omtatah expressed deep concern over how Parliament orchestrated Gachagua’s ouster from office in 2024.
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He maintained that the proceedings were marred by partisanship and failed to adhere to constitutional standards.
According to the senator, there is currently no clear legal framework governing the impeachment of a sitting Deputy President, making the entire process not only irregular but also unconstitutional.
Omtatah, who voted against the motion, described the impeachment as a shameful episode in Kenya’s democratic history, emphasising that it was less about upholding the law and more about settling political scores. He insisted that such actions undermine the rule of law and set a dangerous precedent for political intolerance and misuse of legislative power.
“I voted no to the impeachment of Gachagua; what happened in Parliament was shameful,” Omtatah said.
Adding;
“We do not have a law for impeaching the DP. His impeachment was a witch hunt that managed to succeed.”
Gachagua’s outcry
Omtatah also came to Gachagua’s defence over his vocal outbursts and frustration following his controversial ouster. According to the senator, Gachagua’s actions were justified, especially if the Kenya Kwanza coalition failed to honour its internal power-sharing agreements.
“Gachagua’s actions were justified,” Omtatah said. “If the Kenya Kwanza coalition failed to honour the MoUs signed before the 2022 general elections, then he had every right to speak out.”
He explained that the Kenya Kwanza alliance was formed based on ethnic coalitions, each bringing in votes in exchange for promised positions and privileges.
“Based on the evidence brought to the Senate, Gachagua was enforcing the MoU, flawed as it was. They (Kenya Kwanza) came into this arena as tribes, so everyone was fighting for their group. So, if Gachagua was promised something and he was not given it, he had a right to blow the vuvuzela,” Omtatah declared.
Omtatah accused the coalition leadership of selectively implementing the agreement. He pointed out that while other leaders, such as Moses Wetang’ula and Amason King,i had received what was promised to them, Gachagua had been sidelined.
“Wetang’ula was promised to be Speaker of the National Assembly; he resigned his position as a Senator, and he went and picked it up. Mr. Kingi was promised to be the Speaker of the Senate; he is the Speaker of the Senate,” he said.
Adding;
“If Gachagua was promised something and was not given, for heaven’s sake, he had a right to blow the vuvuzela.”
Despite his strong support for Gachagua’s right to speak out, Omtatah emphasised that any future political partnership between them would have to be based on shared values and not mere convenience.
“I would work with Gachagua, but it will be on the question of the ideological framework,” Omtatah said.
