Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is rallying the Mt Kenya region ahead of his Senate impeachment trial, calling for unity and peace amid escalating tensions.
As the trial looms, Gachagua addressed the region on Sunday, October 13, during the 34th diocesan anniversary celebrations at St Mark’s Teachers Training College in Embu, urging calm regardless of the outcome.
"Irrespective of what happens, I am calling for peace in Embu and Mt Kenya and all of Kenya. We only have one Kenya and not any other country," stated Gachagua.
His message comes against the backdrop of protests in the Mathira Constituency, his backyard, following the National Assembly's impeachment vote. But even before the impeachment on Tuesday, skirmishes emerged during the public participation in Nyeri, Nyahururu, and other parts of Mt Kenya.
Gachagua did not delve deeply into the impeachment during his address, simply expressing confidence in Kenya's judiciary. “We have faith in our courts, and I am certain that our judges will uphold the Constitution and ensure the will of the people prevails,” he remarked, referring to his ongoing legal efforts to halt the Senate proceedings.
His legal team has argued that he was not given sufficient time to respond to the allegations, which include 11 charges levelled by Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse.
Tensions remain high in the Mt Kenya region, where chaos erupted shortly after Gachagua’s impeachment by the National Assembly on October 8. The unrest, particularly in Gachagua’s home turf of Mathira, saw clashes during public participation forums meant to gather input on the impeachment motion.
Allegations have emerged of MPs and former leaders disrupting the forums, with reports of intimidation towards participants.
Gachagua's latest court petition, filed on Friday days before the trial, accuses certain MPs of orchestrating bribery schemes and intimidating colleagues to secure votes in favour of his impeachment. He alleges that lawmakers from the Rift Valley led efforts to manipulate the process, while his allies faced threats and apprehensions as part of a broader campaign to ensure the impeachment motion succeeded.
The Deputy President’s call for peace comes amid accusations that the public participation data used to justify his impeachment was manipulated to inflate support for his removal. Gachagua claims that data from constituencies such as Keiyo South showed numbers that exceeded realistic thresholds, suggesting an attempt to distort the democratic process. “The people’s voice should not be fabricated to fit a predetermined narrative,” he contended.
Gachagua’s political fate now rests with the Senate, which will examine the evidence and arguments presented by Mutuse, the motion's sponsor. However, the National Assembly maintains that the courts should not interfere, citing the principle of separation of powers. MPs argue that it is premature for the judiciary to intervene, given that the impeachment process is not yet complete.
Gachagua's recent praise of the judiciary is a shift from his previous criticisms, a move seen by some as strategic, given his ongoing legal battles. His legal approach not only aims to challenge the validity of the impeachment but also to expose what he describes as "a politically driven agenda" against him.
