As Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua fights hard to thwart attempts by lawmakers to hound him out of office, residents of Nyeri have elicited mixed reactions over the ouster bid.
Rigathi is expected to defend himself in Parliament later today after Kibwezi West Member of Parliament Mwenge Mutuse moved a motion to remove him from office last week.
Among grounds being advanced for his removal include the alleged breach of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act and Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act, gross violation of the Constitution and abuse of office.
Article 150 of the Constitution stipulates that the Deputy President may be removed from office on grounds of physical or mental incapacity or on due to gross violation of a provision of the law.
To accomplish this, a member of the National Assembly must first table such a motion before the House supported by at least a third of all the members.
To meet the legal threshold, Mutuse rallied a total of 291 MPs to support the historic motion.
But among those voicing their dissent against the move is Calvin Kiiru a butcher from Nyeri, who has strongly opposed any move to kick out Rigathi from the Kenya Kwanza government.
He said the second in command was only being sacrificed at the altar of political expediency owing to his bare-knuckled approach to matters affecting the country.
“Rigathi shouldn’t be impeached for speaking the truth. During the demonstrations by Gen-Z, he was one of the few leaders who stood up for the youth. When the Gen Z were being clobbered on our streets it was only Rigathi who spoke out against the brutality. His tribulations emanate from his decision to stand with the people,” he claims.
Kiiru who has openly confessed his unwavering support for the current government also voiced concern about what he claims was an unusual silence from the Head of State at a time his deputy was being dragged to the gallows.
“I voted for both President Dr William Ruto and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua since I believed in their promises. Unfortunately, I am a disappointed man. The government should respect people’s votes. It’s not right for the President to remain silent while things are not going right. He should at least pronounce his thoughts on the issue,” he said.
Morphat Kariuki while poking holes in the impeachment motion claims the entire leadership has failed the ultimate test of good governance.
And without defending Rigathi, Kariuki says Kenyans are quite disappointed with the leaders they elected into office since the majority have totally failed to serve those who voted them into office.
“I not only support the impeachment of Gachagua but also want the entire government to resign. We are suffering down here as our leaders go for each politically instead of doing what we elected them to do. The entire leadership has failed this country,” he opined.
“Those accusing him of being tribal and corrupt should stop pretending. The truth is that everyone serving in this government is corrupt. Focusing on Gachagua alone is hypocritical and won’t solve the deeper issues plaguing our leadership,” Kariuki added.
Kariuki singled out Kieni MP Njoroge Wainaina, accusing him of being part of Gachagua’s ‘controversial’ land dealings.
He now says the lawmaker who voted in favour of the ouster motion should also be shown the door.
Another resident Regina Wangui, has dismissed claims of Rigathi being disrespectful of his boss.
She says those calling for the removal of Rigathi from office should be seeking ways and means of solving the challenges affecting the country instead of going on a fishing expedition just to kick out the deputy president from office.
“People are accusing Rigathi of disrespecting President Ruto but the fact that he apologized shows he is a humble man. A leader who is ready to admit when he is wrong is one worth keeping. Rigathi has always been straightforward, and now they want to impeach him for that? We need leaders who speak the truth and stand by the people,” she stated.
Should the National Assembly vote to impeach him, the Deputy President will continue to occupy office pending the outcome of such a motion which must finally be ratified by two thirds (or 45) of all members of the Senate.
By Samuel Maina and Njoki Nderitu
