President William Ruto has revealed that he intervened on two occasions to save former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua from impeachment attempts by Members of Parliament. Speaking during a media engagement at Nyeri State Lodge on Monday, Ruto said he gave Gachagua a chance to redeem himself from what he termed as “petty conflicts” with other leaders.
Ruto claimed that Gachagua had engaged in unnecessary confrontations with Members of Parliament and State House officials, which fueled attempts to remove him from office.
“I tried, in fact, on matters saving him. When they refused Gachagua the first time, I accepted him. When they tried to impeach him the second time, I saved him. Was I elected to serve one person or Kenyans?” Ruto posed.
The President emphasized that leadership should be about serving the people rather than engaging in internal political battles. He urged leaders to focus on development and not personal disputes, reiterating that Kenyans ultimately judge their leaders’ performance.
Gachagua became the first deputy president in Kenya’s history to be impeached in October 2024. Senators upheld at least five charges against him, including allegations of shareholding conflicts, undermining judicial independence, violating the National Cohesion and Integrity Act, and gross misconduct, including public attacks on the National Intelligence Service (NIS). The impeachment motion was introduced by Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse and passed in the National Assembly, where 281 MPs voted in favor of his removal, with only 44 opposing the motion.
Despite Ruto’s past efforts to protect Gachagua, he clarified that the former DP’s removal was a decision made by Mt Kenya politicians who followed legal procedures. “Those who removed him followed the law. I never signed anywhere that he be removed from office,” Ruto stated.
Ruto also defended his decision to nominate Gachagua as his running mate, saying he had consulted Mt Kenya leaders before making the choice. “Even when I nominated him, I asked leaders from Mt Kenya to help me with one of them to be my running mate,” he said.
The President’s remarks highlight ongoing political shifts within his administration and the Mt Kenya region, signaling a new phase in the country’s political landscape.
