Kenya’s Deputy Head Honcho, Rigathi Gachagua, chats with the press in Nairobi, Monday, Oct. 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Andrew Kasuku)
NAIROBI, Kenya — Facing a stormy impeachment brew, the deputy chief of Kenya stands accused of backing rebellious protests in June and dabbling in murky dealings. Gachagua stepped up to bat today, vowing to show up in parliament on Tuesday for a verbal showdown.
In a broadcast on Monday, Gachagua took aim at the lawmaker behind the impeachment push, branding the accusations as “ridiculous and dramatic.” It’s his first real deep dive into these matters in the public eye.
He’s scheduled to confront parliament’s scrutiny Tuesday afternoon, pledging, “I plan to present my case robustly for two full hours.”
Clashes erupted Friday between Gachagua’s fans and critics at town hall meetings, where community feedback forms were being filled out.
Gachagua defended his wealth, asserting some assets in question belonged to his deceased brother. He also justified refurbishing his official digs, saying they needed fixing up to be worthy.
This past Sunday, during a reflective prayer session at his abode, he requested pardon from President William Ruto, lawmakers, and Kenyans for any slip-ups while in office.
On Monday, he assured that his plea for forgiveness wasn’t admitting fault and swatted away the buzz about his potential resignation.
Tuesday sees lawmakers prepping to discuss the motion, followed by a ballot before sending it to the senate.
An impressive 291 parliamentarians, far surpassing the 117 needed, inked the impeachment document. However, some from Gachagua’s turf have distanced themselves after hearing the voices of their constituents.
Ruto, until now silent about the impeachment mumblings, once hinted he wouldn’t publicly embarrass his deputy, evoking memories of the rocky road traveled with his predecessor, Uhuru Kenyatta, during their second term.
Edited by: Ali Musa
Axadle international–Monitoring
