‘I won’t be in parliament when Gachagua is being impeached’ – Peter Salasya

Mumias East MP Peter Salasya has publicly announced his decision not to participate in any efforts to impeach Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, citing more pressing national issues.

In a statement shared on his Instagram page on Saturday, September 28, 2024, Salasya emphasized his reluctance to engage in the impeachment manoeuvres noting that he won’t be attending parliament when his fellow lawmakers will be voting.

“Siku ya ku impeach Rigy sitakuwa bunge because mimi i dont want to involve in matters kenya kwanza or broad based gvt. We have more serious issues to discuss as a country,” Salasya stated.

Salasya’s sentiments come amidst escalating discussions among Members of Parliament regarding a potential impeachment motion against Deputy President Gachagua, primarily stemming from allegations of divisive politics.

Gachagua’s begs Ruto

While addressing supporters during a roadside rally on Friday, September 27, 2024 Gachagua vehemently defended his position, asserting that he and President William Ruto were elected on a joint mandate in the 2022 elections.

“The MPs are trying to intimidate me, saying they will remove me from office. They are intimidating me, aren’t they? But I am telling them that we fought hard to get this government, and we were elected on a joint ticket. It wasn’t the president who gave me this job, it was you, the people, wasn’t it?” Gachagua stated.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua cautioned that any efforts to impeach him could lead to instability within the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), Kenya’s ruling party.

He stressed that his removal would severely impact the party’s cohesion and strength, urging President William Ruto to maintain the administration’s unity. Gachagua emphasized that the government was formed through a joint effort and called for solidarity in its management, warning against actions that could undermine their shared achievement.

He also alluded to plots against him, appealing to those involved to reconsider for the sake of stability.

Gachagua called on President William Ruto to maintain their partnership for the remaining three years of their term and to delay any decisions about their political future until closer to the 2027 general election.

“Let us focus on our work for the next three years, and if you have other plans afterward, you can make that decision then.”

He further emphasized his role as Deputy President, reminding both the crowd and the president that his position was earned through the votes of the Kenyan people.

Gachagua also highlighted the political significance of his Mount Kenya support base that both he and President Ruto relied upon.

This was not the first time Gachagua had publicly appealed to President Ruto to honour their 2022 agreement. In a televised interview on September 20, 2024, Gachagua made a similar plea, asking the president to allow him to serve out his term.

“Please let me work for the remaining three years and keep your promise, Mr. President, to maintain the trust of the Kenyan people.”