On October 4, 2024, amid tumultuous proceedings, Kenyans gathered at Bomas in Nairobi to weigh in on the high-stakes impeachment of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. Wilfred Nyangaresi captured the event for Nation Media Group.
Kenya’s Deputy President, Rigathi Gachagua, on Thursday, made a desperate attempt to dissuade the National Assembly from proceeding with an impeachment vote. Over ten legal petitions were filed across various courts, challenging this political storm.
Parliamentarians are gearing up for a Tuesday showdown, voting on whether to advance the impeachment motion spearheaded by Mwengi Mutuse, a loyal member of President William Ruto’s ruling alliance, to a full Senate trial.
The Deputy President is entangled with 11 allegations, including economic crimes, misuse of his office, and egregious breaches of the nation’s Constitution.
In a bid to avoid past judicial overrulings, Parliament invited the public to share their opinions on the impeachment motion. This move aims to address loopholes that previously saw Senate attempts to oust county governors overturned.
Mr. Gachagua, in a personal court filing, contended that the impeachment process is already compromised. He questioned the validity of the public consultation, condensed into a single day.
The Deputy President fiercely rejects accusations of corruption against him and his family, maintaining that the charges are unfounded and politically driven. He suggests this is a retaliatory action due to his falling out with President Ruto, a dispute that has escalated over the last five months.
As of now, President Ruto has refrained from public commentary on this heated matter. Yet, there are whispers that Ruto’s loyalists in Parliament have been subtly encouraged to press forward with this political gambit, setting the stage for a significant power struggle between him and his Deputy.
The stakes are dizzyingly high for both men. For Gachagua, being impeached would spell political banishment, dashing dreams of succeeding Ruto in future elections, be they in 2027 or 2032.
If he beats this ouster, Gachagua secures a prominent political comeback, solidifying his influence in the densely populated Mt Kenya region and fortifying his bargaining chip in political alliances yet to be formed.
Critics label Gachagua as divisive, yet his political ascent seems undeterred, thanks to his skill in vocalizing regional grievances about the unequal distribution of shared resources.
This style of grievance-led political strategy isn’t rare in Kenya. Current President Ruto, alongside his predecessor, Uhuru Kenyatta, rode comparable sentiments to victory in the 2013 elections, capitalizing on regional frustrations against perceived injustices from their prosecution by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Back in those turbulent times following the disputed 2007 election, more than 1,100 souls were lost and 650,000 people displaced. Uhuru and Ruto were among six accused of crimes against humanity. However, all ICC charges dissolved for lack of evidence, with Ruto’s acquittal in 2016 freeing him to pursue his eventually successful 2022 presidential election without legal encumbrances.
Ruto’s presidency has faced myriad challenges, navigating the stormy seas of public discontent over cost of living, debt stress, and meddlesome political infighting sparked by his erstwhile deputy.
After enduring dissension in both government and their United Democratic Alliance (UDA), Ruto might welcome Gachagua’s removal as a breath of fresh air.
Failure in this political skirmish, however, could cripple Ruto’s stature, especially in regions where Gachagua’s impeachment has morphed into a barometer for Ruto’s approval.
In recent months, protests driven by the nation’s youth between June and July pressured Ruto into political concessions and policy adjustments to placate the restless populace.
Edited by: Ali Musa
Axadle international–Monitoring
