National Assembly Unites Against Gachagua: 291 MPs Sign Impeachment Motion
In a significant move, 291 out of 345 National Assembly members signed the impeachment motion against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, revealing the vulnerabilities of the second-in-command.
Unexpectedly, Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro chose to abstain from the motion, despite being a loyal ally of President William Ruto.
Following days of uncertainty regarding the sufficiency of support for the impeachment, the backing proved to be overwhelming. This marked a pivotal moment for Deputy President Gachagua, leading to an hour of reckoning.
The Deputy President garnered less than 20% support in the National Assembly, as 174 MPs surpassed the required 117-member threshold to advance the historic impeachment motion.
The atmosphere in the assembly was charged from the outset, with some members enthusiastically rallying as cheerleaders, chanting “patriot” with each name read by the motion’s proponent, Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse.
Notable figures who supported the motion during the heated session at 2:30 PM included Jubilee-nominated MP Sabina Chege, who had recently been a staunch defender of the deputy president.
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Supporters of the motion emphasized the need to enhance security for President William Ruto and themselves. “They said the flag would be half-mast by March 2025… these matters carry weight,” stated NA Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah.
Despite the isolation at the top, Gachagua was not entirely alone; 54 sitting members opted not to sign the impeachment motion, choosing instead to observe the proceedings.
Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro, often viewed as President Ruto’s favored ally, did not appear among the supporters of the motion, which was accompanied by chants of “patriot!”
Most MPs from Murang’a County rallied behind the ‘truthful man,’ who now faces a new set of challenges.
Others, such as Marakwet West MP Timothy Kipchumba, representing President Ruto’s stronghold of Elgeyo Marakwet, argued that there were insufficient grounds for Gachagua’s removal.
The National Assembly consists of 345 members, just four short of the constitutional requirement of 349. The constituencies of Banisa, Magarini, and Ugunja remain vacant, while the ODM nomination slot formerly held by Treasury CS John Mbadi is yet to be filled.
National Assembly Unites Against Gachagua: 291 MPs Sign Impeachment Motion
