Ruto Halts Gachagua Ouster: Behind Closed Doors with Mount Kenya MPs
An impeachment motion against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, initiated by a faction of Mount Kenya lawmakers, has been postponed.
This shift comes after multiple interventions, including one from President William Ruto, driven by various factors, some extending beyond Gachagua himself.
Some lawmakers, who view Gachagua as an obstacle to their political ambitions and accuse him of isolating the region, were finalizing the impeachment motion when President Ruto intervened.
During a meeting at State House on Saturday, August 10, President Ruto persuaded Mount Kenya MPs to abandon the impeachment plans.
The President argued that the issues surrounding his deputy did not justify impeachment, although some believe Gachagua should be removed for alleged sabotage and insubordination.
Kieni MP Njoroge Wainaina, present at the meeting, mentioned that impeachment talks were causing grassroots unrest. He requested assurance from the President to halt the debate against Gachagua, which Ruto agreed to.
President Ruto reportedly assured them that there was no major rift with his deputy, only minor issues being addressed.
Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu, who has been critical of Gachagua, stated that the meeting unified Mount Kenya leaders in support of the President’s inclusive government.
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Nyutu also confirmed that the leaders admitted to President Ruto that regional political discord was putting pressure on them from voters and jeopardizing their 2027 re-election prospects.
He declared his support for the Deputy President, pledging unity to fulfill their pre-election promises.
However, three of Gachagua’s strongest critics—Kimani Ichung’wa, Mwangi Kiunjuri, and Eric Wamumbi—did not attend the meeting.
Multiple sources indicate that the MPs requested Gachagua not be invited, as he was central to the discussion, a request Ruto honored to allow open and candid discussions.
Gachagua, who has previously accused Mount Kenya MPs of undermining him and criticized some of the President’s allies for trying to control him, has been vocal about these issues.
In June, he stated that some of the President’s friends were attempting to act as his bosses, advising them to maintain their friendship with the President but leave him alone.
Nyoro confirmed that they met with the President to discuss national unity and their role in supporting him.
He emphasized their duty to back the President, who was massively elected by the region, and to stand by him as he worked to stabilize the nation.
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Before the change of heart, Gachagua had faced a series of political attacks, some threatening his political survival.
Several staffers and aides have been questioned regarding ongoing street protests, with some being investigated for allegedly aiding the protests, a charge Gachagua claims is intended to embarrass him.
Gachagua, in response to the impeachment debate, remarked that it would be interesting to see how those from Rift Valley, who they helped win the 2022 elections, would handle the situation.
Observers believe Gachagua’s challenges are partly self-inflicted, as his confrontational approach to politics has not been beneficial.
He has also clashed with the National Intelligence Service and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.
With the decision to drop the impeachment, it was agreed that President Ruto and Gachagua would tour Mount Kenya to reassure the region of their unity.
ALSO READ: Gachagua vs Nyoro: Political Rivalry Heats Up as Ruto Fuels Tensions in Murang’a
A key figure among the President’s allies opposed to the impeachment argued that the move was unnecessary and would harm innocent people who Gachagua had brought into the government.
Gachagua’s threat that he would not go down without a fight, and his refusal to resign, signaled a potential full-blown political battle.
For President Ruto, there is a significant concern that impeachment would distract his government from delivering on its promises.
Ruto, still dealing with protests led by Gen Z, has told his advisors that he cannot afford another manufactured crisis.
He seeks peace to govern for the next three years, a period critical to his chances of re-election.
Another perspective suggests that an impeachment attempt, regardless of the outcome, would elevate Gachagua’s status, potentially turning him into a political martyr.
This sense of victimhood could strengthen Gachagua’s position in the country, giving him momentum in future elections.
Those against the impeachment also argue that it would inadvertently elevate Gachagua to the status of Mount Kenya’s kingpin, a position previously held by retired President Uhuru Kenyatta since 2013.
This prospect is opposed by those aspiring to take over the regional leadership.
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Former Public Service Minister Moses Kuria recently declared that he would never support Gachagua’s impeachment, vowing to oppose it as long as he is alive.
Another reason President Ruto’s advisors counseled against the impeachment is his pre-election promise not to mistreat his deputy, as he experienced under Kenyatta.
Cleverly, Gachagua reminded his boss of this promise during a joint media interview last weekend.
Additionally, the introduction of ODM leader Raila Odinga’s allies into the Cabinet was another reason the impeachment plot was dropped, according to a source close to the President.
The argument that Ruto now has options, reducing his deputy’s leverage, also influenced the decision.
ODM’s parliamentary numbers are now available to support the President and could be useful if Gachagua’s allies defy government bills.
These numbers could also be crucial in an impeachment scenario. This isn’t the first time a Deputy President has faced the threat of impeachment.
After the strained relationship between Kenyatta and Ruto following the 2018 handshake with Odinga, there were plans to remove Ruto from office.
However, unlike the current situation, Ruto had the backing of most Jubilee MPs, making such a move risky for the President, leading to the plan being abandoned.
Ruto Halts Gachagua Ouster: Behind Closed Doors with Mount Kenya MPs
