Kenyan lawmakers are preparing to vote on the impeachment of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, a move that has captivated the nation following a fallout with President William Ruto. Gachagua faces serious allegations, including corruption, ethnic divisiveness, and undermining the government.
The 59-year-old, commonly referred to as “Riggy G,” has dismissed the charges as “outrageous” and part of a malicious campaign to remove him from office. He plans to defend himself before the vote, which will precede further proceedings in the Senate if the motion passes.
Political tensions have escalated since deadly protests erupted in June over unpopular tax hikes, revealing a significant rift between Ruto and Gachagua. Following these protests, which resulted in over 50 deaths, Ruto reshuffled his cabinet, incorporating members from the main opposition. Several MPs aligned with Gachagua were summoned by police last month on allegations of funding the protests, but no formal charges have been filed.
In anticipation of the vote, security measures have intensified in Nairobi, with police patrols and roadblocks around parliament. Reports indicate that approximately 20 lawyers have been retained to represent Gachagua against the impeachment motion. Last week, 291 MPs signed the motion, surpassing the 117 needed to initiate the process, and Gachagua has been unsuccessful in previous attempts to halt the proceedings in court.
In a televised address, Gachagua accused the MP who drafted the motion, Mwengi Mutuse, of dishonesty, labeling the allegations as “shameful and sensational.” The impeachment motion cites 11 grounds for removal, including claims that Gachagua inexplicably amassed 5.2 billion Kenyan shillings (approximately $40 million) in assets over the past two years. Gachagua asserts his innocence, claiming that some of the properties mentioned in the motion belonged to his deceased brother, and he defended the controversial renovations of his official residence.
Public consultation, mandated by the constitution for major parliamentary decisions, showed that out of over 200,000 responses, 65% favored Gachagua’s impeachment, while nearly 34% opposed it. On Sunday, Gachagua appealed to both Ruto and the MPs for forgiveness regarding any perceived wrongdoings during his term, clarifying that his apology was not an admission of guilt.
While Ruto has not publicly commented on the impeachment motion, he previously stated his intention not to publicly humiliate his deputy. To pass, the motion requires support from at least two-thirds of the National Assembly, a threshold expected to be met given the alliance between the main opposition and the president’s party.
If the Senate also endorses the motion, Gachagua would become the first deputy president to be impeached under the 2010 constitution. In 1989, then-Vice President Josephat Karanja resigned amid similar circumstances.
