Inside Politics

Bumula MP threatens to sponsor impeachment motion against DP Rigathi Gachagua

Tuesday, January 3rd, 2023 13:00 | By
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Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua at a past event. PHOTO/Courtesy

An Azimio la Umoja - One Kenya coalition Member of Parliament has threatened to sponsor an impeachment motion against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

Bumula MP Jack Wamboka claims the country's second in command "has become a tribal chauvinist" who is using the office of the Deputy President to push for the interests of one community at the expense of others.

Speaking to journalists over the weekend, the opposition legislator elected on a Democratic Action Party - Kenya (DAP-K) ticket said Gachagua was becoming a big embarrassment due to what he termed as "below-par conduct".

He claimed that since his rise to power in August, Gachagua has shown open bias for the Mt Kenya region in state appointments and key decisions taken by the Kenya Kwanza administration.

"I want to react to remarks made by the Deputy President at one of the functions in central Kenya where he was telling his people that the remaining positions in government will go to Kikuyus...Rigathi Gachagua must know that respect is earned and that how he is conducting himself is below par. He has become a tribal chauvinist," Wamboka said.

“Every time Rigathi speaks you wonder whether he is the Deputy President of Kenya or Deputy President of the Kikuyu republic. In fact, at some point, I will bring a motion to impeach you, discuss your conduct and impeach you,” he added.

The MP also took issue with Gachagua's recent remarks about plans by Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja to ban matatus from the city's Central Business District (CBD).

"He is threatening everyone left right and centre. You saw what he did with the good Governor of Nairobi County Johnson Sakaja. Threatening him ooh tulikupatia watu niliongelesha Wakikuyu (I asked Kikuyus to elect you). Sakaja was not elected by Kikuyus. Sakaja was elected by Kenyans in Nairobi," he added.

Gachagua cautions Sakaja

Last month, Gachagua cautioned Sakaja against making any decision that would adversely matatu industry.

Speaking in Nyeri on December 19, 2022, Gachagua noted that he was the one who instructed members of his community to vote for Sakaja.

He further stated that the Nairobi governor should consult him when making decisions that could negatively impact businesses.

"Na nimemuambia govana wa Nairobi tutakaa chini na yeye kwa sababu sisi ndo tulimchagua. Mimi ndo niliketisha Wakikuyu pale Nairobi nikawaambia wamchague. Na nimemuita tukae chini na yeye. Mambo yoyote ambaye anaamua ambayo inaweza haribu biashara katika Nairobi kwanza tuongee tukubaliane," Gachagua said.

The Deputy President insisted that banning matatu from operating in Nairobi Central Business District (CBD) was something that was impossible.

"Hatutaki speed mingi sana, twende pole pole. Sindio? Hio maneno ati ya kutoa matatu nini hio maneno haiwezekani. Staki tuanze kusumbua wafanyi biashara," he said.

The Constitution proves that the Deputy President can be removed from office on grounds of physical or mental incapacity to perform his functions, gross violation of a provision of the Constitution or any other law and where there is serious reason to believe the DP has committed a crime under national or international law.

The President's principal assistant can also be impeached on any form of gross violation.

However, the motion must be supported by a majority of the members in parliament. Currently, President William Ruto and Gachagua's Kenya Kwanza Alliance enjoys a majority in both the Senate and the National Assembly.

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