Alfred Mutua, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection and former Governor of Machakos County, has publicly announced his support for the impeachment of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, calling for an urgent need for better leadership in the country.
Speaking at a public forum in Machakos on Friday, October 4, 2024, Mutua said that Gachagua had failed to meet the high expectations of the Kenyan people, and it was time for a change.
Mutua made his statements during the official public participation exercise regarding Gachagua’s impeachment, which is being conducted across Kenya’s 290 constituencies.
The exercise allows citizens to weigh in on the impeachment motion, sponsored by Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse, which accuses Gachagua of misconduct and failing to uphold principles of good governance.
“As a resident and voter of Machakos County, the first Governor of Machakos, and a proud Kenyan patriot, I stood with my fellow citizens to hear the charges of impeachment brought against Deputy President H.E. Rigathi Gachagua,” Mutua said.
“Together at Machakos Social Hall, we listened as the case was laid out point by point, and I even had the opportunity to ask questions for clarity. For me, the conclusion is undeniable: Kenya deserves better leadership,” he added.
Public participation gains momentum
The public participation process officially kicked off on Friday, with Kenyans flocking to designated centers nationwide to make their submissions regarding Gachagua’s impeachment.
The exercise, which began early in the morning, is expected to run throughout the day, giving citizens a chance to fill out questionnaires and offer their opinions on the proceedings.
The involvement of citizens in the impeachment process is seen as a vital aspect of Kenya’s democratic process.
Legal battle
The impeachment process has not gone uncontested.
Gachagua, in a petition dated October 3, 2024, filed an urgent application with the High Court in a bid to stop the public participation exercise, arguing that it lacked a clear legislative procedure.
However, the High Court declined to grant the order, allowing the exercise to continue.
Justice Bahati Mwamuye directed that Gachagua’s legal team serve the respondents, including the Speaker of the National Assembly, ahead of a court mention scheduled for Wednesday, October 10, 2024.
In his petition, Gachagua sought a court ruling to bar the public participation exercise, arguing that it contravened provisions of the Kenyan Constitution.
Despite the legal challenges, the process has moved forward, with citizens turning out in large numbers to offer their views on the motion.
The participation is seen as a crucial part of ensuring transparency and fairness in the impeachment process, allowing Kenyans to directly engage with the democratic mechanisms of governance.
Politics
The impeachment proceedings against Gachagua have become a focal point of political debate in Kenya.
While his critics accuse him of misconduct and failing to deliver on his promises, supporters of the Deputy President argue that the impeachment process is politically motivated.
Mutua, a key figure in Kenya’s political landscape and an ally of President Ruto emphasized that his stance was not about personal politics but about the need for greater accountability in the country’s leadership.
For Mutua, the focus remains on the long-term well-being of the country and the need to ensure that those in power are held to the highest standards.
The fate of Deputy President Gachagua now rests in the hands of the Kenyan public and lawmakers, as the country watches closely to see how this high-stakes political drama will unfold.
