As Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s woes continue to deepen amid an impeachment plot by President William Ruto’s allies, Kakamega County Senator Boni Khalwale has recounted the moment Kenya’s fifth Vice President had to resign.
Taking to his official X account on Sunday, September 22, 2024, Khalwale stated that the late Josephat Karanja, who served as Kenya’s fifth Vice President between 1988 and 1989, faced the same woes Gachagua is undergoing.
According to Khalwale, a plot to oust Karanja was hatched and it was being spearheaded by former Embakasi Member of Parliament (MP) David Mwenje.
When Karanja learnt about the plot that was going to see him ousted through a vote of no confidence in parliament, Khalwale says the VP decided to resign, to avoid the embarrassment.
“Dr. Josephat Karanja, a son of Murima, was the fifth Vice President of Kenya (1988-1989). He resigned in a huff to avoid an ongoing vote of no-confidence in Parliament, spearheaded by a fellow son of Murima called Hon. David Mwenje. The more things change, the more they remain the same,” Khalwale stated.
Dr Josephat Karanja, a son of Murima, was the fifth vice president of Kenya (1988-1989). He resigned in a huff to avoid an ongoing vote-of-no-confidence in Parliament, spearheaded by a fellow son of Murima called Hon David Mwenje.
— Dr Boni Khalwale, CBS (@DrBKhalwale) September 22, 2024
The more things change, the more they remain the… pic.twitter.com/qh67AewbcX
Khalwale’s statement comes amid reports of a plot to impeach DP Gachagua.
Gachagua’s impeachment plot
The reports come days after a section of Mt Kenya MPs denounced Gachagua and endorsed Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki as their direct link between the region and the presidency.
In yet another revelation that all was not well between Gachagua and Ruto, the second in command asked his boss to be the gentleman he promised to be when he committed that he would never subject his deputy to coercion, humiliation, and persecution.
“Today, the Deputy President is abused by people, hanging on his car, and the president is quiet. Cabinet ministers have been abusing the Deputy President; the president is quiet. The President has given many promises to the people of Kenya,” Gachagua stated in an exclusive interview with one of the local TV stations on Friday, September 20, 2024.
According to Gachagua, the current situation was the country’s lowest political moment, even as he disclosed that his family was devastated that their father, who went out of his way to support the president, was being persecuted.
“And I say, even if there is a jinx around this position, at least President Ruto was allowed to do his work for five years, without interruption, without harassment, for five years. I’ve only done one year. And what is happening to me is worse than what happened to President William Ruto. I ask President William Ruto, please allow me to work,” Gachagua said.
