History Made: Gachagua Becomes First Kenyan Deputy President to be Impeached
In a landmark decision, Rigathi Gachagua has become the first Deputy President of Kenya to be impeached, following a tumultuous period marked by growing tensions within the government. The impeachment motion, spearheaded by Mutuse Mwingi, received overwhelming support in the National Assembly, with 281 lawmakers voting against Gachagua, while only 44 stood in his defense.
The deputy speaker of the National Assembly, Gladys Boss Shollei, previously hinted at Gachagua’s potential removal, escalating the political drama surrounding the second-in-command. The rift between Gachagua and President William Ruto has been evident for months, particularly following controversial remarks made by Gachagua regarding “shareholders,” which prompted Ruto to publicly distance himself from his deputy’s comments during a roundtable interview.
Tensions escalated further when Gachagua began skipping key government functions, signaling a breakdown in their political alliance. His comments about Mount Kenya interests led to accusations of tribalism, intensifying the backlash against him.
As the impeachment proceedings advance to the Senate, lawmakers will determine whether to uphold the National Assembly’s decision or provide Gachagua a lifeline. If the Senate concurs with the assembly’s findings, Gachagua will go down in history as the first deputy president in Kenya to face impeachment, a stark contrast to the tenure of former Deputy President Ruto, who faced significant challenges but was never removed from office.
The unfolding political crisis underscores the fragility of alliances within Kenya’s leadership and raises questions about the future of Gachagua’s political career as the nation watches closely.
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