GAGHAGUA'S IMPEACHMENT A Game-Plan for 2027 elections.

 

An Autumn of Impeachment, A Disgraced Kenya’s DP!

If there is something that Kenya’s political atmosphere is not new to is unending innuendos, tumult, betrayal, unexpected rapprochements, blackmail and split of regimes before their tenures lapse. Kenya is yet on another political pandemonium just months after historic Gen Zs June ‘#Occupy’ protests. Protests that nearly ousted the current regime out of state power.  A pandemonium partly caused by lingering effects of successful #OccupyParliament protests inter alia. With successful tabling of Deputy President Impeachment motion on the floor after garnering a staggering endorsement of 291 members of national assembly, Kenya's political space, particularly government has been greatly divided in ways never experienced before. While impeachment of a key figure in presidency is granted in the article 145 and article 150 of constitution of Kenya 2010, no member of parliament has in the past successfully tabled a motion to impeach either president or deputy president making this attempt the first one in the history of the republic of Kenya. The motion bases the impeachment on three sets of grounds; Gross misconduct of his office, gross violation of the constitution and uttering intolerable tribal rhetoric that undermine national unity and cohesion; likes of ‘Usiguze Murima, Serikali Ni kama kampuni’ among others.

Status quo defying Ruto’s promise.  

To understand this political moment it is important to reminisce on broader context of recent political history. The KK regime took oath of office after winning hotly contested general election in 2022, which was interestingly marked by a  surprising famous ‘Handshake’ between the former head of state and Mt.Kenya kingpin-Mr. Uhuru Kenyatta and veteran opposition chief Raila Odinga. Two politicians who were twice opposing contenders for the country’s top job. But the pre-Handshake seasons were heavily defined by unified government formed by two men who promised each other of unconditional support during and beyond their 10-year term . Remember the ‘Kumi Yangu, Kumi Yako’, identical tie, identical shirt, it was the most enjoyable political bromance to watch at the time. This was envisaged in their memorandum of Understanding  forged when they united their respective parties to form Jubilee party. The eventuality of the bromance was Uhuru guaranteeing his lieutenant a unconditional endorsement to become the next president of Kenya. But  then the 'Handshake' appeared unexpectedly. The Handshake agreement between Raila and Uhuru opened series of divisions between the Uhuru’s brigade named ‘The Kieleweke’ and pro-Ruto gang, ‘The Tang Tanga’. In eyes of  most Kenyans, William Ruto was humiliated and  undermined  by a person he helped win the presidency. This  attracted sympathy-induced popularity  which consequently saw him into power. Against all unthinkable odds, Ruto won elections after hard struggles facing a super-advantaged opponent. An opponent that had secured hefty endorsements right from statehouse and the entire state machinery geared towards delivering a win to him. Enjoying unprecedentedly and  considerably significant  support from a region that had undergone through a community oath  many years ago to never let power sneaks out of the region and then importantly female running mate. Bottom-line is, he had a big chance to win but he didn’t. Following Ruto’s  shockingly  tremendous success in that election, in multiple interviews before and after and on his swearing in, he promised never again under his presidency will a deputy president be humiliated, undermined, black mailed, intimidated and oppressed the way he was. However, most Kenyans view his loud silence on this impeachment attempt as a stark contradiction to his earlier promises of respecting and protecting his deputy. Whereas impeachment motions against senior officials are not entirely unprecedented in the politics of this country, successful arrival of impeachment motion against DP Rigathi Gachagua to the floor of the house is the first. Importantly, to  contemplate impeaching a key member of presidency is not unprecedented in the sense that during the peak of Uhu-Ruto rivalry in the course of the preceding  regime, a section of  pro-Handshake legislators had hinted to impeach then DP Ruto, but it never reached to the floor of national assembly. Besides, at the local level governments, there has been unending impeachments.

Why they want him out of office

DP Rigathi Gachagua, alias Riggy G, a former long-time local administrator, personal assistant to former president Uhuru Kenyatta, a former one-term legislator- Mathira Constituency and incumbent Deputy president of republic of Kenya has been active in  Kenya’s politics indirectly and directly for decades. His national political fame rose during the last elections’ campaigns as he was very vocal in speaking issues affecting his community and uniting his community against former President Uhuru Kenyatta's  endorsement of Raila Odinga in favour of his boss. He was exemplary at it! De-campaigning Uhuru’s endorsement to Raila Odinga to the extent that William Ruto selected him  over super-qualified contenders for DP selection, the likes of Prof Kithure Kindiki, Anne Waiguru inter alia. However, since KK regime came into office, his political safari has been marred by his aggressive regionalism and tribalism rhetoric. His newfound controversial slogan of ‘Usiguze Murima’ which in some way resonates well with Kenyans from Mt.Kenya region has attracted fierce criticism from large section of Kenyans from other regions  forcing politicians to follow suit. Further, most Kenyans are not comfortable with his ugly tribal overtones and thus not comfortable with him occupying a position like deputy president which is highly regarded as a fundamental national unifying position. A leader that makes ethnically-dividing remarks and resort to promoting interests exclusive to his region against others does not deserve to occupy such position. His overt regionalist ideologies can be traced back from immediate post-election  period during which he made unpopular remarks such as “the government is like shareholding company” that those holding many shares should enjoy much before those holding less shares. These kind of remarks  were  interpreted as discriminative,  promoting imbalanced development and appointments that does not reflect the diversity of Kenyan people. In spite of support of this impeachment by the public, there is   his support base that does not welcome it. And now as his impeachment looms, those Kenyans speculate that the president’s silence conveys volumes. Is he the force behind Gachagua’s eventual fall? Is he orchestrating a planned distancing from his DP and the region? For the relevance 2027 elections?

Implication of Impeachment

First and foremost, on this, there is a swathe of circulating conspiracies surrounding his impeachment. As I have mentioned, while there is section of Kenyans that believe it is legitimate for Gachagua to be impeached, some speculate that president Ruto is the actual driving force behind this process because the process would otherwise immediately stop if he direct  parliament to not continue with it- a parliament which majority of Kenyans view it as an extension of statehouse. But why do they  think Ruto is the force behind this motion? In Kenya’s politics what matters to politicians is the politics itself and their re-election and it is not therefore not inaccurate to posit that’s exactly what Ruto is thinking of right now. Typically, preparation for game plans for next elections are usually commenced immediately after an election end. Notably, following the recent dramatic shifts in cabinet make-up forced by deadly Gen Zs protests in June 2024, most Kenyans understood that Ruto’s relation with Nyanza region is becoming intense, especially after appointing two leaders from the region into vital cabinet positions, Ministry of National Treasury and Economic planning and ministry of Energy, two spots that had been traditionally oscillated between only two communities. This move seemed to have displaced Gachagua brigade from their conventional positions of interests. Hence the ‘Usiguze Murima' which indirectly warns the president and his close influential confidants to not affect original representation of his home region in the cabinet or government. Bottom-line is Ruto is on a restless vote option-hunt because he is becoming increasingly aware that his support by Mt.Kenya vote is slowly declining and therefore he has to intensify his popularity in other areas that he has never been. His constant visits to Nyanza, moulding dalliance with Raila Odinga and appointment of Mbadi and Opiyo Wandai indicate that for the second time, since pentagon alliance in 2007, these regions would forge an alliance that could push Mount Kenya region into opposition for the first time in the history of the republic. More so, if this impeachment sails through, it will breed a renewed political disagreement between the Mt.Kenya and Rift Valley that had existed during post-election disputes in 2008.

Ultimately, Gachagua’s impeachment will open a new chapter in recent political history, especially since the promulgation of the constitution of Kenya, 2010 as he will be the first second in command to be edged out of DP office under the new constitution. Before the CoK 2010, it was the prerogative of the head of state to hire or fire his vice president, however, CoK 2010 eliminated that privilege and awarding it to parliament and the public. To further on impact, the kind of political change it will impact  in Kenyan political landscape will be quite significant in regards to impeaching leaders, including presidents, deputy president, cabinet secretaries, and other senior state officials.

As the country stands on a cliff of a political disturbances, the results of impeachment motion against Kenya’s number 2 will likely reshape the future of governance and politics in the country. Will it be a driver for broader national conversation or will it further embeds divisions? The coming days will be critical in determining not just DP’s fate but the future direction of politics of this country. In a country that still relieving from ugly past ethnic conflicts and political friction, the significance of unity and inclusivity should not be forgotten. As we Kenyans watch these unfolding trends, the cardinal question remains; what kind of leadership do we genuinely admire for our country?