Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has dismissed allegations of impeachment reportedly advocated by some of his political adversaries.
In a Sunday interview with Agikuyu vernacular media outlets, Gachagua acknowledged awareness of the impeachment claims but expressed nonchalance towards them.
“If advocating for my constituents leads to impeachment, I am prepared to step down. I am still young,” he asserted.
Gachagua also commented on the entry of ODM leader Raila Odinga and his associates into the Kenya Kwanza government, linking their involvement to the impeachment rumors.
“I understand there were attempts to impeach me previously, but they lacked the numbers. Now, with Raila and his allies in government, they claim to have the numbers to remove me if they unite,” Gachagua remarked.
According to Gachagua, President William Ruto assured him that Raila and his team joined the government to enhance stability, not to instigate his impeachment.
“Ruto informed me that Raila’s team was coming to assist, not to remove me. Therefore, I am not taking the impeachment threats seriously,” he emphasized.
Regarding allegations that MPs from the Mt Kenya region are spearheading the impeachment efforts, Gachagua described such assertions as surprising.
“It would shock me if Mt Kenya leaders are behind this motion against me because I have consistently advocated for the interests of the region,” he stated.
“If indeed there is such a motion, they should gather signatures from where they were elected. MPs did not elect me; it was the Kenyan people, especially those from Mt Kenya, who overwhelmingly supported me and Ruto,” Gachagua added.
These remarks from Gachagua follow reports of late-night meetings and covert plans allegedly aimed at removing him from his position as the country’s Deputy President.
Sources suggest that Gachagua faces accusations of insubordination, undermining the presidency, and supporting anti-government protests, leading to criticism from some leaders in his Mt Kenya base.
Recently, detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) questioned Gachagua’s aides over their alleged involvement in recent anti-government demonstrations across the country.
