Kenya’s Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua faces the looming prospect of impeachment as lawmakers express growing concerns, fueled by intense speculation regarding a significant rift with President William Ruto.
Allies of the president in parliament have leveled serious accusations against Gachagua, alleging that he is undermining the government, fostering ethnically divisive politics, contributing to the violent protests that shook the nation in June, and engaging in corrupt practices.
Concerns of instability at the core of the government have emerged amid a power struggle, coinciding with Kenya’s ongoing deep economic and financial crisis.
In the 2022 election, Ruto selected Gachagua as his running mate, ultimately overcoming former Prime Minister Raila Odinga in a fiercely competitive race.
Gachagua hails from the influential Mount Kenya region, where he played a key role in rallying support for Ruto.
The political landscape has shifted significantly, as members of Odinga’s party have joined the government following youth-led protests that compelled Ruto to retract his plans for tax increases. This development has left the deputy president appearing more isolated than ever.
Legislators are reportedly gearing up to introduce a motion in parliament that seeks to initiate impeachment proceedings against him.
“I have already appended my signature to it,” stated majority leader Kimani Ichung’wah.
The deputy president’s supporters have repeatedly tried in the High Court to prevent the presentation of the motion, but they have not been successful.
Multiple legislators informed local media outlets that the one-third threshold has been surpassed, with nearly 250 individuals already supporting the initiative to bring the motion to the floor for discussion.
Legislator Didmus Barasa said, “I was shocked to discover that I was the 242nd person to sign it, yet there was still a line of people waiting to do the same.”
“It’s a foregone conclusion; the deputy president requested it,” stated legislator Rahim Dawood.
Gachagua has adopted a resolute stance, asserting that he enjoys the support of voters from his home region in central Kenya.
“Two hundred individuals cannot negate the collective will of the populace,” he stated. To secure the motion’s passage, it must gain the support of at least two-thirds of the members in both the National Assembly and the Senate, with the exception of the nominated members.
The motion’s proponents express strong confidence in its passage, particularly with the added support from Odinga’s party now in play.
Gachagua has unequivocally stated his intention to resist any challenges he faces.
The president has the authority to request that Members of Parliament cease their activities. “If it persists, he stays involved,” he stated to media outlets reaching his political base in Mount Kenya.
Ruto has previously pledged to refrain from imposing “political persecution” on Gachagua, drawing parallels to his own experiences during his tenure as deputy to former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
The divide between Ruto and Gachagua has become increasingly evident in recent months.
The deputy president has notably been missing from the airport during his boss’s departures for international trips, as well as during the receptions upon his return.
Interior Secretary Kithure Kindiki, a law professor with the president’s confidence, seems to be assuming certain responsibilities typically held by the deputy president. This shift echoes a similar dynamic observed during the rift between Ruto and Kenya.
Similar to Gachagua, Kindiki hails from Mount Kenya, an area recognized as the largest voting bloc in the country.
A significant number of legislators have come together in support of Kindiki, positioning him as the region’s favored representative. This development has fueled speculation regarding his potential succession to Gachagua.
The deputy president now finds himself largely isolated, supported by only a small group of elected officials.
In a development that underscores the political challenges facing the deputy president, the police’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has put forth recommendations for charges against two Members of Parliament, a staff member, and several close associates. Authorities accuse these individuals of orchestrating, mobilizing, and financing violent protests that occurred in June.
Gachagua has come forward to defend the accused, characterizing the charges as an “act of aggression” and an “evil scheme” aimed at tarnishing his reputation and paving the way for his impeachment.
Kindiki, the minister in charge of the DCI, pledged to uphold impartiality during a parliamentary session last week, while highlighting the pursuit of prosecutions against “high-level individuals.”
The nation is grappling with the consequences of a recent attempt to undermine Kenya’s constitution, orchestrated by criminals and dangerous individuals who came alarmingly close to setting fire to the Kenyan parliament. “We have a job to do,” he stated.
Many young individuals who played a pivotal role in the protests reject claims that Gachagua’s allies orchestrated the movement. They view the lawmakers’ efforts to remove him as a strategy to divert focus from issues of poor governance.
People frequently assert that the deputy’s departure necessitates that the president resign as well.
Later this week, President Ruto will convene a meeting with his party’s legislators to assess the political implications of potentially confronting Deputy President Gachagua. However, some lawmakers have expressed their desire for Ruto to refrain from engaging in the ongoing debate, presenting a challenging situation for the leader.
Currently, Gachagua’s future is in the hands of lawmakers, yet there remains a possibility that one individual could grant him a fresh opportunity in the political arena—the president.
