NAIROBI, Kenya- Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has strongly condemned the impeachment charges leveled against him, calling them outrageous just hours before his defense in Parliament.
The impeachment proceedings, spearheaded by Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse, are set to take place on Tuesday in the National Assembly.
Speaking from his Karen residence, Gachagua addressed the press firmly rejecting the charges brought against him. Describing the allegations as baseless, he vowed to clear his name in front of lawmakers.
“These are outrageous accusations that have no foundation,” Gachagua asserted. “They’re propaganda, and this motion is nothing more than a coordinated attempt by certain individuals to remove me from office without cause.”
He criticized the impeachment motion as a direct attack on the will of the people who elected him, alongside President William Ruto, in the 2022 general elections.
“7.2 million Kenyans cast their votes for us. This motion is an insult to the mandate that voters gave us,” Gachagua emphasized, using the moment to rally support and address his critics head-on.
In his televised address, Gachagua didn’t hold back, accusing the motion’s sponsor, Mwengi Mutuse, of spreading “lies” and hinted that some Members of Parliament (MPs) were being pressured into supporting his removal.
He expressed regret that state machinery had been deployed to coerce MPs, suggesting an orchestrated campaign to oust him from his position.
“The rules of natural justice demand that no man should be condemned unheard,” Gachagua said, adding that he plans to attend Tuesday’s hearing in person to offer his side of the story.
Gachagua also warned that the impeachment proceedings could set a dangerous precedent for Kenya’s democracy.
“This is about overturning the will of the people,” he said. He described the process as politically motivated and argued that it risks undermining the trust voters have placed in the current administration.
Despite the intense political drama, Gachagua remains defiant, reiterating his commitment to continue serving as Deputy President.
As he gears up for Tuesday’s defense in Parliament, the national debate surrounding the impeachment motion is likely to dominate political discourse in the coming days.
