Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is facing mounting speculation that his impeachment is imminent, as the political landscape in Kenya shifts following President William Ruto’s growing collaboration with opposition leader Raila Odinga.
Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba, a vocal member of parliament, has warned that an effort to oust Gachagua could soon materialize.
In a TV interview on Monday, September 23, 2024, Wamuchomba pointed to conversations within parliamentary corridors, stating that an impeachment is on the way.
According to her, discussions among lawmakers are increasingly focused on Gachagua’s removal from office.
“My brother, we are on these networks and in these political corridors. As we look at things, as we talk to people, and as we listen, it is clear an impeachment is on the way,” Wamuchomba said.
The Githunguri MP suggested that president Ruto’s new partnership with Raila is more than just a strategy to unite the country – it may be a calculated move to secure the parliamentary numbers necessary to push Gachagua out.
Wamuchomba expressed disappointment, noting that this alliance marks a betrayal of the promises made to the people of Mount Kenya, who were instrumental in Ruto’s rise to power.
“We never ever expected that honourable president William Ruto will one day sit with Raila Odinga to discuss maneno ya maendeleo ama maneno inayohusu watu wa mlima, because that is what he promised,” Wamuchomba lamented, adding that Ruto had vowed during his campaign not to share power with the opposition.
“Not only did he promise during campaign but even after he was duly elected when ODM and Azimio were in the streets.
“He came to Mt Kenya region, I remember he started in Githurai akaenda Sagana, tukafika uko Sagana State Lodge and he promised us, and you can replay his clips, saying he will never patiana nusu mkati, that is what he said… ‘Mimi naweza patiana nusu mkati?‘ Barely one year after that he gave out his section of government,” she added.
Broad-based government
The tension over Gachagua’s future comes as the deputy president himself expressed concerns about his position during a separate interview.
Speaking to Citizen TV on Friday, Gachagua acknowledged hearing rumours of his potential impeachment but maintained that he trusts Ruto’s intentions in forming a broad-based government with Raila.
He admitted, however, that some of his closest allies and political opponents have suggested that Raila’s involvement could be part of a plot to remove him from office.
Gachagua said that while he had not seen any formal agreement between Ruto and Raila, he trusted the president’s word that the alliance was in the nation’s best interest.
“The President gave me his word, and I was happy,” Gachagua said, when asked if he had reviewed any written agreement between Ruto and Raila.
“I took his word that we need to bring these people on board so we can work together and move the country forward,” he added.
Despite his support for the broader alliance, Gachagua remains uneasy about the political consequences, acknowledging fears that some members of parliament, especially from Raila’s ODM party, might now have the backing to mount an impeachment effort.
“I am told they’re saying that they didn’t have the numbers to remove me, but now that Raila has come on board, they can use his MPs to join and kick me out,” he revealed.
In a rare moment of public vulnerability, Gachagua appealed directly to Ruto, asking the President to allow him to serve the remaining three years of his term.
Wamuchomba’s remarks, coupled with Gachagua’s candid concerns, underscore the deepening rift within Kenya Kwanza, the ruling coalition.
As Gachagua’s potential impeachment looms, the political intrigue surrounding Kenya’s leadership reflects the high-stakes power struggles that may determine the country’s future governance.
