Speaker Wetangula Condemns Gachagua’s TV Interview ‘Abhorrent’ Ahead of Ouster Debate
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula expressed strong disapproval of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s two-hour TV interview on Tuesday, labeling it as “abhorrent” and inappropriate due to its focus on a motion currently under discussion in Parliament.
Wetangula’s remarks came just before the highly anticipated impeachment debate, which has the potential to end Gachagua’s political career.
“I am not acting as a judge in this case, but I must state that the Deputy President’s behavior was, at the very least, inappropriate, especially given the ongoing parliamentary procedures,” Wetangula said during the session.
The Speaker highlighted that Standing Order 85 of the National Assembly forbids MPs from commenting on motions that have already been formally introduced in Parliament.
Although Gachagua is not a member of the National Assembly, Wetangula explained that the standing orders apply to him due to his direct involvement in the matter at hand.
“Standing Order 85 prohibits members of this House from making preemptive remarks on a motion after notice has been issued,” Wetangula clarified. “When broadly interpreted, this rule also extends to non-members, particularly those directly implicated in such motions.”
Wetangula further emphasized that Gachagua, being the subject of the impeachment motion, should have shown discretion by not participating in the televised interview.
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“With the special motion scheduled for debate and voting today, the Deputy President should have exercised more caution and avoided engaging with the media,” Wetangula noted.
“This is not about whether the Deputy President has had the opportunity to defend himself before the House—he has. It is about maintaining decorum and respecting the parliamentary process.”
In a televised briefing on Monday, Gachagua addressed the allegations fueling the impeachment motion, dismissing them as unfounded and politically motivated.
He claimed that the accusations were part of a scheme to damage his reputation and wrongfully remove him from office.
Gachagua labeled the upcoming impeachment as a “disgraceful chapter” in Parliament’s history, asserting that lawmakers would be trying to unseat a democratically elected leader based on falsehoods.
The impeachment motion advanced to the public participation phase in all 47 counties after receiving backing from 291 National Assembly members.
Gachagua is set to face trial on Tuesday, with a defense team led by experienced lawyer Paul Mwite to represent him before Parliament.
Speaker Wetangula Condemns Gachagua’s TV Interview ‘Abhorrent’ Ahead of Ouster Debate
