DP Gachagua's impeachment talks reveal little sympathy for him

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. [DPCS]

The threat of impeachment against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, which began in hushed tones, has now blown into a full debate, eliciting reactions from a cross-section of leaders where the common thread is little sympathy for the DP.

Central Organisation of Trade Unions—Kenya (COTU-K) Secretary General, Francis Atwoli, yesterday accused Gachagua of not only being in campaign mode but misleading the country by contradicting government policies and the president.

"You cannot be contradicting government policies, contradicting your own president. A deputy president is supposed to play cool, not even to be heard unless he has been told you will be heard now," said Atwoli.

"Deputy president should be an appointee of the president, not a running mate. Because when he becomes a running mate, he thinks he is also a president. They have a cabinet. They have their national security committee meeting chaired by the president. He has access to State House, has the president's telephone. Let him not contradict his boss in public, those are bad manners," he uttered.

Political strategist Mutahi Ngunyi took Gachagua head on his X account using unflattering language and a coconut caricature that left readers reeling.

“You are not elected, you are selected. Ruto took Mt Kenya from Uhuru without you. The 47 per cent of GEMA that voted Ruto had nothing to do with you. Do not lie...” Ngunyi said on his X platform.

Responding to Ngunyi's tweet former Kiambu Governor William Kabogo said, "I couldn't agree better. Prof we have disagreed on a number of issues but this one you are spot on"

University don and political commentator Makau Mutua tweeted, "...either DP Gachagua has severe amnesia or doesn't know the history of his Mt Kenya people. They dont hate betrayal; they love betrayal. Jomo Kenyatta betrayed Jaramogi. Kibaki betrayed Raila and Kalonzo, Uhuru betrayed Mudavadi, there were known consequences for those betrayals."

Kimilili Mp, Didmus Barasa earlier lashed out at Gachagua, saying the DP should be impeached before the end of the year.

Barasa said he has taken a one-month break from parliament to discharge duties in his constituency and will only go there to either sign impeachment motion or to vote to take Gachagua home.

“Gachagua impeached himself one year ago. The other day he said the MPs have been ‘bought’ to impeach him but that is not the case. The Parliament is bold enough and will fight for the country’s democracy. We have decided to fight tribalism and before the year ends, we will have impeached the Deputy President,” Barasa said.

He said that the influence and power that comes with the office of DP are enormous and if used positively, the country can progress to the satisfaction of Kenyans.

ODM Chairperson, Gladys Wanga has also criticised Gachagua’s claims of a fall out with the President, saying they read mischief in his statements and is an attempt to divert attention from critical national matters.

“When anybody from the Presidency comes out to address the country, Kenyans expect to hear about how to deal with the many challenges…The bitterness is arising from the fact that other people who are not considered shareholders by the Deputy President have now come forward and are participating in this company that is Kenya,” Wanga said.

Similarly, Suba South MP Caroli Omondi said the wrangles between Ruto and Gachagua are not helpful to the country, especially at a critical moment when the country requires economic recovery.

According to Omondi, the country cannot afford to have a discordant presidency, just two years after elections were held.

"We are just two years from election and this country cannot afford a discordant presidency. I am sure a political solution will be found to address the issues. What is needed in Kenya today is development, meaning the country is in the economic recovery trajectory and that is what Kenyans expect," Omondi said. 

Suba North Mp, Millie Odhiambo separately called for the need to put the interests of Kenyans first and reduce the endless politicking.

“I want to plead with the president… please ensure there is some level of sobriety. Kenyans are suffering. Kenyans are living hand-to-mouth and cases of abuse are going on. We have a broken system as a country. But what are we doing? Politicking all the time. Let us think about Kenyans,” said Odhiambo.

Tana River Senator Danson Mungatana filed a censure motion against Gachagua yesterday as he expressed his disappointment with the conduct of the deputy president.

“Public utterances made by Gachagua have marginalised sections of Kenyans, created and continue to heighten tensions among different ethnic communities in Kenya, and portray the conduct of Gachagua as being in contravention of provisions of Article 75 of the Constitution,” said Mungatana in his notice of motion.

But Environment Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale responded to Mungatana, saying that a motion for impeachment of the deputy president can only originate in the National Assembly pursuant to Article 150 of the Constitution.

“The motion must be supported by one-third, which is 117 Members, and then supported by 233 Members of the National Assembly for it to pass. After passage in the National Assembly, it then makes its way to the Senate to be considered as appropriate including hearing by the Senate or special Committee and thereafter the Senate will vote on the charges if supported by two thirds of all the members of the Senate, the person shall stand impeached,” Duale posted in his X platform.

“The Senate cannot therefore initiate the motion. To note is that also only a Member of the Assembly can initiate the process. Free advice as a former Majority Leader,” he added.

Currently,  a few politicians have stood with Gachagua and have criticised leaders, especially from Mt Kenya who are opposed to him, describing it as the height of betrayal.

One of Gachagua’s strongest defender has been Githunguri MP, Gathoni Wamuchomba, who says that they are on the lookout for the impeachment motion reportedly to be tabled in Parliament soon.

She said Mt Kenya region hates betrayal and urged the President to take note of the 606,000 votes he got in Kiambu alone and not only respect the people’s voice but also let Gachagua do his job.

“I am a sad mother, daughter of the mountain. I am not qualified to advise the President but please remember how painful it was to get that seat. I cannot imagine it is only two years and we have forgotten what we went through and now we are chest thumping as we attempt to impeach the deputy President,” Wamuchomba said.   

Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu urged the President not to allow the impeachment at all cost and urged

"Please, Mr President, do not entertain the impeachment, it will be very detrimental to the stability of our country. And to leaders from this region, it cannot be that its only place we fight our own people,” said Nyutu.

Kiambu Senator Karungo Thang’wa has also defended the DP, saying he is the political voice of the Mt Kenya region and they will not allow his impeachment.