Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has accused the Kenya Kwanza administration of orchestrating his impeachment for opposing unfulfilled promises and advocating for honesty.
Speaking at Tetu Catholic Church on Sunday, January 5, 2025, Gachagua revealed that his fallout with President William Ruto stemmed from his insistence on truthfulness in governance.
He explained that he initially believed he and the president were aligned but later realized that promises made to Kenyans were not being fulfilled.
“In the first year, I thought we were speaking from the same page until I realised it was all lies,” Gachagua said. “I warned my boss that we should stop lying to Kenyans. That’s when the plan to push me out began for saying the truth.”
The impeachment motion, filed by Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse on October 1, 2024, accused Gachagua of undermining the authority of the president, corruption, insubordination, gross misconduct, and other charges. The motion was overwhelmingly endorsed by 282 MPs in the National Assembly, sealing his removal from office.
During his address, Gachagua praised Catholic bishops for their courage in speaking out against government failures. He described the church as the conscience of the nation and commended its leaders for their bold stance at a time when many remain silent.
“We thank our bishops for speaking for the people of Kenya. When everybody has been silent, the church remains steadfast,” he remarked.
Since his removal, Gachagua has become a vocal critic of the Kenya Kwanza government, calling attention to unfulfilled promises and inadequate service delivery.
He cited examples such as the uncompleted Ruring’u Stadium, which remains in disrepair two years after being promised, and the lack of roads, water, and medicine in hospitals.
“We came to Ruring’u and promised we will complete the stadium; it is now two years, and nothing has been done. There are no roads, no water, no medicine in the hospitals, and our job is lying to Kenyans daily,” he said.
Gachagua concluded by asserting that his impeachment was a direct response to his warnings to the president. He vowed to continue holding the government accountable and speaking out against what he described as its failures.
