In recent weeks, Kenya’s political landscape has been thrown into disarray as Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua claims that his position is under threat from an impeachment motion allegedly orchestrated by President William Ruto’s allies. Gachagua’s startling allegations have laid bare the growing rift within the Kenya Kwanza administration, igniting fierce debates over the balance of power, loyalty, and the future of the country’s leadership.
Speaking to a crowd in Mwea, Kirinyaga County, Gachagua dropped a bombshell, alleging that Members of Parliament (MPs) were being offered Ksh.5 million to support his impeachment. The deputy president named county Woman Representative Njeri Maina and Senator James Murango as two individuals who were approached with bribes but declined in defiance of the alleged conspiracy. “Njeri was called, and they tried to sell her fear by telling her to sign for my impeachment, but she declined. She was told to take Ksh.5 million but refused. Senator James Murango was also offered cash, but he declined,” Gachagua revealed during his address.
This alleged impeachment plot, according to Gachagua, is not only an attack on his political standing but also a betrayal of the people of Kenya, who he claims voted him into office alongside President Ruto. “I was elected by the people of Kenya, not by the president. Both the president and I were elected on one ticket, and you chose Ruto because I was there. If Gachagua was not there, you would not have chosen him,” he asserted, drawing a direct line between his political survival and the will of the Kenyan electorate, particularly those from the Mt Kenya region, where he enjoys strong support.
A Deepening Rift Between Gachagua and Ruto
The allegations of an impeachment plot come on the heels of growing tension between Gachagua and President Ruto, tension that has become increasingly public in recent weeks. In a tell-all interview with Citizen TV, Gachagua revealed the extent of his strained relationship with Ruto, including the fact that he had been removed from the president’s official WhatsApp group, a sign of deteriorating communication between the two leaders.
This discord appears to have reached a boiling point while Ruto was in New York attending the United Nations General Assembly, leaving Gachagua and his allies in Kenya to expose what they see as a deliberate attempt to oust the deputy president from office. The timing of these revelations suggests that the political battle within Kenya Kwanza has been simmering behind the scenes for some time, but the public airing of grievances has now thrown the issue into the national spotlight.
Gachagua and his allies accuse President Ruto of orchestrating the impeachment motion from behind the scenes, pulling strings in Parliament to gather support for the motion. Gachagua’s public statements have cast a shadow over Ruto’s leadership, with the deputy president framing the impeachment plot as a betrayal of the very people who propelled Ruto to power. “If he’s tired with Mt Kenya votes, let him tell us. We took him as our own and voted for him earnestly. He should stop telling the MPs to kick us out of office,” Gachagua declared, signaling a direct challenge to Ruto’s authority.
The Alleged Impeachment Motion
According to reports, the impeachment motion against Gachagua is set to be formally tabled in Parliament on October 1, with over 300 signatures already collected in support of the effort. The sheer number of signatures suggests that a significant portion of the political class is backing the motion, raising questions about whether Gachagua’s time in office is coming to a premature end.
Impeachment in Kenya is a high-stakes political tool that can be used to remove individuals from public office for gross misconduct or violation of the constitution. If the motion goes through, it would not only mark a significant shift in Kenya’s political landscape but also serve as a powerful blow to Gachagua’s political career.
The alleged bribery of MPs, as Gachagua claims, adds another layer of complexity to the unfolding drama. If true, these actions would highlight the use of financial incentives to manipulate political outcomes, casting a shadow over the integrity of the parliamentary process. Gachagua’s claim that MPs are being offered Ksh.5 million in exchange for their signatures paints a picture of a deeply corrupt political environment, one where financial interests appear to outweigh democratic principles.
Political Implications for Kenya Kwanza
The political fallout from the alleged impeachment plot is not limited to Gachagua and Ruto; it could also have far-reaching consequences for the Kenya Kwanza administration as a whole. As the party in power, any internal divisions or public displays of disunity can weaken its standing, both within the government and in the eyes of the Kenyan public.
For Gachagua, the alleged impeachment motion represents not just a personal attack but also an affront to the Mt Kenya region, which has historically played a key role in determining the outcomes of national elections. His remarks about Mt Kenya votes underscore the regional power dynamics at play within Kenya’s broader political structure. By positioning himself as a defender of Mt Kenya’s interests, Gachagua is seeking to rally his base of support against what he perceives as an existential threat to his leadership.
The public fallout between the president and his deputy is also a reflection of larger fault lines within Kenya Kwanza. With Gachagua’s public accusations against Ruto, there is a growing perception that the Kenya Kwanza alliance is fraying at the edges, potentially paving the way for rival political factions to exploit these divisions.
A New Phase in Kenyan Politics?
If the impeachment motion proceeds, it could signal a dramatic shift in the political landscape, not just for Kenya Kwanza but for the country as a whole. The role of deputy president in Kenya has historically been fraught with political tensions, as previous administrations have also grappled with internal power struggles. However, the public nature of Gachagua’s allegations and the high-profile involvement of MPs in the impeachment process make this particular case stand out.
For political observers, the coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether Gachagua can weather this storm or if he will fall victim to the forces seeking his ouster. The collection of over 300 signatures in favor of impeachment suggests that there is significant momentum behind the effort, but it remains to be seen whether this will translate into an actual parliamentary vote that could remove Gachagua from office.
President Ruto’s Silence
One of the most striking aspects of this unfolding drama is President Ruto’s relative silence on the matter. Despite Gachagua’s public accusations and the growing controversy, Ruto has yet to make a clear statement addressing the claims or defending his deputy. This silence has only fueled speculation that Ruto is, at the very least, complicit in the efforts to remove Gachagua from office.
Some of Gachagua’s allies have criticized Ruto’s lack of action, urging him to intervene and “crack the whip” on members of his administration who have been openly hostile to the deputy president. Whether Ruto will take such action remains uncertain, but the longer the silence continues, the more it could be interpreted as tacit approval of the impeachment plot.
Conclusion: A Moment of Reckoning for Gachagua and Kenya Kwanza
The alleged impeachment motion against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua represents a pivotal moment in Kenyan politics. If the motion proceeds, it could fundamentally alter the power dynamics within Kenya Kwanza and potentially lead to a reshuffling of the country’s leadership. For Gachagua, the stakes are existential—his political future hangs in the balance as he faces off against forces that may include his own president.
As the clock ticks down to October 1, when the motion is expected to be tabled in Parliament, all eyes will be on Kenya’s political arena, waiting to see whether Gachagua can survive this latest challenge or if his detractors will succeed in their bid to oust him from office. The outcome of this power struggle will have lasting implications not only for Gachagua but for the entire Kenya Kwanza administration and the country’s political future.
