Results of public participation show disparities, low turnout in Mt Kenya

Nyeri residents air the concerns during a public participation forum on the plan to impeach Deputy President on October 4, 2024.[Kibata Kihu, Standard]

An overwhelming majority who took part in the public participation exercise supported the removal of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, according to the National Assembly.

But the results of the exercise, which was marred by chaos and low turnout in some areas, showed glaring discrepancies.

In Keiyo South, for example, the National Assembly indicated 43 people took part but 70 voted in support of the impeachment while one opposed, casting doubts on the credibility of the numbers.

The document further showed that 162.79 per cent of the participants supported the ouster Motion while 6.98 per cent opposed.

According to the results tabled in Parliament yesterday, out of 224,907 who took part in the exercise, 146,429 supported Gachagua’s impeachment, 76,026 rejected and 2,452 failed to fill the form.

Out of the 44 constituencies in Mt Kenya region, 23 supported the ouster bid while 21 opposed.

Some constituencies, such as Juja, with over 100,000 registered voters, only 55 residents participated, where 50 supported the DP’s removal.

In Kimani Ichung’wah’s Kikuyu, 63 people turned up for the exercise, where 58 approved while five opposed the attempt to kick Gachagua out.

In Thika Town, only 87 turned up, with 80 signing for the impeachment. In Ruiru constituency, of the 63 who showed up, 50 backed the move while in Gichugu, Kirinyaga County, 75 Kenyans turned up and 29 of them agreed that Gachagua should go.

In Gatundu South, only 23 participated in the exercise, and 20 supported the motion while three opposed it. Of the 95 who filled the forms in Gatanga, 15 rejected the move.

At the same time, the document indicated that nine constituencies approved the Motion by 100 per cent. These were Mogotio (454), Balambala (313), Kuresoi North (39), Daadab (305), Fafu (121), Kirinyaga Central (120), Magarini (145), Lafey (247) and Mandera South (102).

Others that got 99 per cent approval included Mumias West (503), Bondo (317), Mandera East (376), Tongaren (148), Bondo (317), Tiaty (373), Mt Elgon (388), Mandera Noth (391), Butere (370) and Tarbaj (124).

Constituencies that opposed  Gachagua’s removal by over 90 per cent included Gilgil, Kiugmo, Kinangop, Kipipiri, Kitui Rural, Maragua, Mukurweini, Naivasha and Olkalau.

During the public participation conducted on Friday and Saturday, there was confusion with rival groups clashing at some centres.

Gachagua’s supporters termed the impeachment as misguided as they accused their leaders of abandoning the hard pressing matters such as the high cost of living.

Yesterday, Gachagua poked holes in the impeachment motion, repeating his assertions during a press conference at his home on Monday.

He claimed that public participation did not reach the threshold set by the Supreme Court in the impeachment case against former Embu Governor Martin Wambora.

“The rules of natural justice demand that no man should be condemned without a fair process. My lawyers will vigorously challenge this public participation as a nullity that fails to meet the necessary threshold,” he said.

He criticised the exercise as mere charade.

“The people of Kenya were being asked to give their views on whether I should be impeached, but the accusations were presented in highly legalistic language beyond the comprehension of many.”