The Kenya African National Union (KANU) has weighed in on the ongoing talks of a possible impeachment against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua with a bold statement.
The Gideon Moi-led party issued a statement on Wednesday, September 26, suggesting some legislators were focused on the wrong agenda by trying to oust Gachagua.
"While we respect the role of impeachment as a crucial tool for parliamentary oversight, our nation is currently facing pressing issues that demand urgent legislative attention and vigilance," the statement read.
"We cannot be preoccupied with an impeachment as the country stares at significant failures in public policy decisions, including the potential takeover of key strategic national assets, such as JKIA, by the now infamous Adani Group, failed funding model for tertiary education, and a broken public healthcare system."
More sensationally, KANU, through their statement, said if an impeachment motion is to be tabled, it should be aimed at both President William Ruto and his deputy.
"If parliament decides to pursue impeachment, it should be of both the President and the Deputy President, having been elected as a package, for the executive’s continued malfeasance," the statement went on.
Gideon Moi, the chairman of KANU, is not fond of the Kenya Kwanza regime, especially because he has been embroiled in a battle to reign supreme in his native Rift Valley, which also happens to be Ruto's stronghold.
His feud with Ruto dates back to the late 2000s when the battle for supremacy and talks of who would succeed the late President Daniel Moi as the Rift Valley Kingpin was at its peak.
Meanwhile, Gachagua is facing arguably his toughest test yet since assuming office as Ruto's number two, with several Members of Parliament hell-bent on seeing him leave his position before 2027.
Amid talks of an ongoing 'cold war' with the President, Gachagua went on television last Friday to subtly urge the President to 'get his house in order'.
He also alleged MPs aligned with the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), froze him out of state functions.
Impeaching the Deputy President will not prove to be easy, however, as he has to be found guilty of gross violations of the law, gross misconduct, or if there are compelling reasons to believe they have committed a crime under national or international law, as per Article 150(b) of the Kenyan constitution.
