Stop evoking emotions to win over Kenyans, MP Mutuse tells Gachagua

Mwengi Mutuse, the Kibwezi West MP and mover of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's impeachment motion at the National Assembly on October 8, 2024. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

Kibwezi West Member of Parliament Mwengi Mutuse, who initiated the impeachment motion against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, has accused him of using emotional appeals by referencing deceased relatives during a national address on Monday.

Addressing the National Assembly, where MPs are debating the impeachment motion, Mutuse remarked, "It's easy to hide behind the dead because they cannot come to give evidence."

Mutuse presented 11 grounds for impeachment, including gross Constitutional violations, abuse of office, misconduct, and insubordination. 

He further accused the Deputy President of disinheriting his late brother's widow.

"Gachagua has not disclosed to Kenyans that he acquired his brother's properties through coercion during his two years in office as Deputy President. He needs to explain where he got the money to own the properties," said Mutuse. 

Yesterday, Gachagua accused Mutuse of "signing a motion he had not read," urging him to respect the deceased.

Mutuse on Tuesday also presented video clips of the DP likening the government to a company with some Kenyans as majority shareholders. 

“I have 14 other videos of the Deputy President in different parts of the country, speaking in the same language... If the person holding the office of Deputy President wants to take Kenya in that direction, the time has come for Parliament to defend the constitution and impeach him,” the Kibwezi West lawmaker asserted.

He argued that Gachagua had failed to uphold the Constitution and his oath of office. 

"Please vote to impeach Rigathi Gachagua on all grounds," he appealed to fellow MPs.

Mutuse also claimed that Gachagua had amassed property worth an estimated Sh5.2 billion, which he argued was disproportionate to his legitimate income.

National Assembly speaker Moses Wetangula, on his part, termed as 'abhorrent and inappropriate', a television address by the Deputy President ahead of impeavhment hearing today.

"I will not act as a judge in this matter, but I must put on record that the Deputy President’s conduct was, to say the least, abhorrent, especially considering the ongoing parliamentary proceedings,"said Wetangula.

In the Monday address, Gachagua vowed to fight to the end, declaring, “I have no intention of resigning—I cannot resign. I have done nothing wrong against the people of Kenya. I have been very loyal to my boss, President Ruto, and I work hard every day. I will not be distracted.”