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In a fiery address Sunday, October 20, Rigathi Gachagua, Kenya’s impeached Deputy President, broke his silence after spending over 60 hours in Nairobi’s Karen Hospital.
Gachagua did not hold back- he accused President William Ruto of orchestrating his political downfall in a shocking act of betrayal. His remarks followed an unprecedented impeachment, making him the first deputy president in Kenya to be removed from office via such a process.
The events leading to Gachagua’s impeachment unfolded rapidly. On Thursday, the Senate voted late into the night, with legislators upholding five out of 11 charges against him, including gross violation of the constitution, inciting ethnic tensions, and undermining President Ruto’s authority. Despite Gachagua’s vehement denials, the impeachment motion—first passed by the National Assembly—was quickly adopted by the Senate, culminating in a dramatic and unprecedented vote.
Gachagua had been expected to appear in the Senate Thursday to defend himself, but just hours before his scheduled testimony, his lawyer, Paul Muite, informed the Senate that Gachagua had been admitted to Karen Hospital with severe chest pains. Muite requested a postponement of the proceedings, stating, “The sad reality is that the Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya has been taken very sick, and he is in need of complete rest.”
Senators debated the request, with Speaker Amason Kingi ultimately deciding that the impeachment proceedings would continue due to time constraints. Despite the deputy president’s absence, the Senate pressed on, and by midnight, they had voted to remove Gachagua from office. “The Senate has resolved to remove from office, by impeachment, His Excellency Rigathi Gachagua,” Kingi announced after the vote, making Gachagua the first deputy president in the country’s history to be impeached.
The Swift Nomination of Kithure Kindiki
Just hours after the Senate’s decision, President Ruto wasted no time in moving forward. On Friday morning, the president swiftly nominated Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki as Gachagua’s replacement. Kindiki, who had been a frontrunner for the deputy president role during Ruto’s 2022 election campaign, was seen as a trusted figure in Ruto’s administration. However, the swift nomination drew scrutiny, especially from Gachagua’s camp.
In response, Gachagua’s legal team immediately filed a petition in court, challenging the legality of the impeachment and seeking to halt Kindiki’s appointment. The High Court quickly intervened, suspending both Gachagua’s removal and Kindiki’s swearing-in until October 24, pending a full hearing of the case. Justice Chacha Mwita noted that Gachagua’s petition raised significant issues of law and public interest, and Chief Justice Martha Koome was instructed to appoint a bench of judges to hear the case.
For now, Gachagua remains the legally recognized deputy president, though his powers have been significantly curtailed. Kindiki, meanwhile, must wait as the court case unfolds, prolonging the country’s political uncertainty.
Assassination Attempts
Immediately after he was released from the hospital on Sunday, Gachagua did not mince his words. In an emotional and impassioned address, he described his impeachment as politically motivated, accusing President Ruto of betrayal. “I didn’t know President Ruto could be that vicious,” Gachagua said. “I am shocked by how a man I helped to become president, whom I believed in, could turn against me while I was fighting for my life in the hospital.”
Gachagua detailed what he believed were orchestrated efforts to sideline him, including the withdrawal of his security detail and two alleged assassination attempts. He claimed that undercover police agents in Kisumu had attempted to poison his food in August, and another attempt was made in Nyeri in September. “I don’t feel safe,” he said. “If anything happens to me or my family, President Ruto must be held accountable.”
Adding to the betrayal, Gachagua claimed there were efforts to block him from attending the Mashujaa Day celebrations in Kwale. He alleged that all helicopter owners had been instructed to deny him access to flights, and that he was barred from entering Wilson Airport. “There was a concerted effort to ensure that I do not attend the Mashujaa Day celebrations,” he said.
Gachagua believes his impeachment was the result of his outspokenness, especially on issues of corruption within the government. “My only crime is being truthful because nobody else can tell him. I am the only man in the cabinet who can stand up to President Ruto and say, ‘Hey brother, this is not right.'”
He specifically mentioned the controversial dealings surrounding the Adani Group, a multinational conglomerate, which he believes were at the heart of his fallout with Ruto. According to Gachagua, his vocal stance against corruption made him a target within the administration.
Despite his removal from office, Gachagua has vowed to fight the impeachment through legal channels.
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