- President William Ruto revisited the impeachment of his former deputy Rigathi Gachagua a year after it happened
- Speaking in Makueni County on Wednesday, November 12, Ruto recognised Kibwezi MP Mwengi Mutuse for sponsoring the impeachment motion
- Ruto observed that Mutuse embodies the character of a leader who detests incompetence and would move quickly to do away with it
Kai Eli, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
President William Ruto funnily recounted how his one-time deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, was removed from office.
Source: Facebook
He was impeached in October 2024 by way of impeachment. The ouster was initiated in the National Assembly by Kibwezi MP Mwengi Mutuse.
How Ruto reacted to Gachagua’s impeachment a year later
Reflecting on the events in the two houses of parliament that culminated in Gachagua’s unceremonious exit from office, the president seemed to recognise the Kibwezi MP for what he did.
Speaking in Emali town on Wednesday, November 12, the president suggested that Mutuse embodies the character of a leader who cannot stand incompetence.
That he pushes for the development of his constituents
“Mutuse is always on my case demanding development for his people. He is always pushing for roads, electricity and connectivity and other development. He is selfless, and he is fighting for the public. He is firm and development-orientated. If you fail him, he will deal with you just like he did someone else,” Ruto said amid laughter from the crowd.
Speaking at the same gathering, Mutuse noted that Gachagua’s stay in office was detrimental to communities deemed as minorities.
He claimed that whenever he sought any kind of intervention from Gachagua, the latter would turn him away on account of coming from Ukambani, which is deemed a minority.
According to Mutuse, Gachagua would aver that Ukambani did not contribute to Ruto’s vote basket and hence didn’t have a shareholding in the government.
Does Mutuse regret initiating Gachagua’s impeachment?
This came days after Mutuse expressed pride in having initiated the impeachment proceedings that led to Gachagua’s removal from the deputy presidency.
On October 1, 2024, he formally introduced a motion in the National Assembly, outlining a series of allegations against Gachagua and pledging to substantiate each one as he rallied support from fellow legislators.
Source: Twitter
The charges included grave constitutional violations, inflammatory rhetoric, dereliction of duty as Ruto’s deputy, suspicious accumulation of wealth exceeding KSh 5.7 billion, and breaches of both local and international statutes, notably the National Cohesion and Integration Act.
The motion garnered overwhelming backing, with 291 MPs voting in favour of Gachagua’s ouster, prompting the matter to proceed to the Senate.
Mutuse stood by his decision, drawing parallels between his actions and the historic struggles of Kenya’s second liberation freedom fighters and those who resisted authoritarian rule under KANU, such as the late Raila Odinga and Kenneth Matiba.
Can Gachagua be entrusted with public office?
He maintained that Gachagua’s political conduct remained divisive even after his removal, reinforcing the justification for his impeachment.
The MP, and the only one who joined the 13th parliament on a Maendeleo Chap Chap ticket, argued that Gachagua lacked the qualities expected of a national leader and that his tenure was a disservice to the Kenyan people.
He added that, given the chance, he would sponsor the motion again without hesitation.
According to Mutuse, a growing number of Kenyans now understand and support the rationale behind his decision, especially in light of Gachagua’s continued reliance on ethnic-based politics.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
