A last-minute effort to rescue Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua from impeachment by the National Assembly, just hours before he was set to defend himself, has been revealed by a report from the Nation Newspaper. The report exposes frantic behind-the-scenes attempts by key figures, including President William Ruto and Nyeri Governor Mwalimu Kahiga, to prevent Gachagua from being ousted.
In the hours leading up to his appearance in parliament, Gachagua dispatched emissaries to State House to seek the President’s intervention. However, their efforts bore no fruit. On the morning of his much-anticipated defense, Gachagua received a crucial call from his boss, President Ruto. The conversation, which lasted less than a minute, sent a clear message: Gachagua was on his own.
Sources privy to the details disclosed that President Ruto expressed frustration with his deputy, citing Gachagua’s abrasive demeanor, which had alienated a large number of MPs. The President further accused him of undermining government policies and failing to champion development projects in the Mt. Kenya region. Most damning was Ruto’s reference to a scheme orchestrated by Gachagua that had caused irreparable damage to their relationship.
Nyeri Governor Mwalimu Kahiga, a close ally of Gachagua, made his own last-ditch effort to save the Deputy President. Kahiga called for a reconciliation meeting with Mt. Kenya MPs who had signed the impeachment motion, hoping to persuade them to withdraw their support. However, despite organizing the meeting at a Nairobi hotel, none of the MPs showed up, leaving Governor Kahiga waiting alone and the effort in vain.
In a parallel effort, religious leaders led by Anglican Archbishop Ole Sapit and Nyeri Archdiocese head His Grace Antony Muheria attempted to mediate a reconciliation between the President and his deputy. Their efforts also failed.
With all attempts at reconciliation falling flat, Gachagua is now bracing for a trial in the Senate next week. He will be granted five hours to defend himself, while the National Assembly has assembled a team of 10 lawyers to argue their case. After being impeached by 281 votes in the National Assembly, the Deputy President’s fate now lies in the hands of the Senate.
As the legal teams prepare for a high-stakes battle, the political future of Rigathi Gachagua hangs in the balance. Will he manage to mount a successful defense, or is this the end of his political journey?
