Githunguri Member of Parliament (MP) Gathoni Wamuchomba has come out to defend embattled Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua against 11 allegations levelled against him by Kibwezi West MP Eckomas Mutuse in Parliament ahead of a vote on his impeachment later on Tuesday, October 8, 2024.

Wamuchomba, a vocal ally of Gachagua, said the allegations are mudslinging and unsubstantiated and that the Deputy President should be allowed to complete the remainder of his term.

Equally, Wamuchomba noted that Gachagua was perfect in order to advocate for development projects in the greater Mount Kenya region, indicating that the region was the proverbial ‘Jerusalem’ of the country.

‘Forgive us’

“Those of us who feel that the Deputy President has been biased in Mt Kenya politics, please forgive us, but we must tell you that everybody has their home. The Deputy President comes from Mt. Kenya, and every good thing starts from Jerusalem. We are the Jerusalem; we shall continue allowing the Deputy President to do the work he has been doing in Mt. Kenya,” Wamuchomba said.

Among the MPs who expressed support for Gachagua are Kirinyaga MP Njeri Maina, Wamuchomba, and Tetu MP Geoffrey Wandeto, who initially appended his signature in support of the impeachment motion notice.

The MPs will vote to either impeach or retain Gachagua as the Deputy President of the country.

349 MPs will be expected to take the vote, which could set the stage for a potential impeachment vote against Gachagua in the Senate.

The motion requires 233 MPs in Parliament to vote to impeach Gachagua if the process is to proceed to the Senate, where 45 of the 67 senators will be required to vote in favour of his impeachment.

Accusations

Gachagua is accused of, among other issues, gross violation of the constitution of Kenya, gross misconduct, insubordination of the president, and unexplained accumulation of wealth.

On Monday, October 7, 2024, Gachagua said he was convinced that the impeachment motion had the nod of President William Ruto, whom he said had the power to stop the process.

Tetu MP Wandeto on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, appealed to the Members of Parliament to consider voting against Gachagua’s impeachment, stating that he had publicly apologised to the nation.

Wandeto also indicated that the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party had yet to exhaust the internal disciplinary mechanisms and that the matters against Gachagua could be resolved at the party level.