Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua at a previous church event
Planned impeachment motion against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua successfully surpasses the required 117 signatures for tabling, garnering the support of 242 MPs
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has claimed that there is a plot to implicate MPs allied to him in incitement cases to justify his impeachment.
Gachagua has spoken in response to a recommendation by the DCI to the ODPP to charge five politicians associated with him. They are accused of having had a hand in the June 25, 2024 violent anti-government protests.
On Thursday, Gachagua issued a statement saying his staff and supporters had been harassed for over two months, adding that there was a plot to charge three of his staff members and two MPs, James Gakuya of Embakasi North and Benjamin Gathiru Mejja Donk of Embakasi Central.
“The evil scheme aims to implicate them in the violent demonstrations that occurred in late June. This was a futile attempt to soil my name and hopefully create grounds for the mooted impeachment proceedings against me,” Gachagua declared.
Gachagua accused the government of abusing the criminal justice system to perpetuate political interests.
“The use of the criminal justice system to manage politics is an outdated strategy. President William Ruto and I, upon assuming office, vowed that never again shall the criminal justice system be called upon to help in the management of politics. I am embarrassed that we are back to where we were,” he added.
He called on state agencies to act professionally, arguing that Kenyans understand what makes them protest.
“Kenyans are intelligent. They know what reasons made them take to the streets and what the real problems facing Kenya are. They know Rigathi is not among them.”
The DCI probe implicated five politicians, including MPs Gakuya and Gathiru, when intelligence pinned them for organisation, mobilization, and funding of the protests back in June.
In a letter dated September 24, 2024, DCI Director of Investigations Abdalla Komesha confirmed the individuals were questioned in July and August.
The charges against them include incitement charges and, in one instance, money laundering.
