Impeached Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua yesterday appeared to surrender his fate to the courts, expressing confidence they will save him from the verdict of lawmakers.
Speaking in Embu, Gachagua beseeched the Judiciary to assert the will of the people over the whims of politicians.
“I am a believer in the independence of the Judiciary. I am certain the courts will exercise judicial authority, and protect and uphold the Constitution and the will of the people. Our Judiciary is efficient. They (judicial officers) protect the Constitution, and rule of law and always ensure the will of the people is respected. I have confidence that rule of law will prevail and the will of people will be upheld,” he said.
He added; “Pray for us and our country. We elected many leaders (in the 2022 General Election). Is it possible to remove others from office? The President (William Ruto) and I were elected on one ticket. We are asking that the people’s choice will be respected”.
Gachagua spoke as the battle to replace him in the event the Senate upholds his impeachment intensified, with speculation mounting over his likely successors.
People Daily learnt that the battle to replace Gachagua had narrowed down to the Mt Kenya region in what is seen as a deliberate effort to contain growing simmering anger over the impeachment motion.
Media interview
As an indication he could be headed to the courts, the DP in his media interview ahead of the impeachment motion made references to the famous case of former Embu Governor Martin Wambora.
Interior CS Kithure Kindiki had been touted as the best-suited replacement for the embattled DP but since the impeachment by the National Assembly, the situation has since changed and the favour is now tilted towards Central Kenya.
Sources revealed the race was now narrowing down to two governors from the region—Murang’a’s Irungu Kang’ata and his Kirinyaga counterpart Anne Waiguru.
Kang’ata was, however, touted as the most suitable candidate to take the coveted position owing to the intrigues in the region which favours Murang’a county as opposed to Kirinyaga.
Speaking at St Mark Teachers’ Training College Kigari, Manyatta, in Embu yesterday, Gachagua called on citizens to remain calm and peaceful irrespective of the outcome of his trial at the Senate, which starts Wednesday.
Gachagua also appealed to Kenyans to pray for him and the country over the heightened political tensions after MPs voted to impeach him last week.
“Despite everything happening in the country, my plea is that we maintain peace and calm. God is on the throne. Let’s preach and maintain peace irrespective of the outcome. Kenya is our country,” he said.
He maintained that he has confidence in the Judiciary in adjudicating the matter if it gets there.
While commending 44 MPs who voted against the impeachment motion, including Manyatta MP Gitonga Mukunji, the DP encouraged leaders to listen to the people.
“I thank MPs like Gitonga Mukunji and Njoki Njeru (Embu Woman Representative) for respecting and adhering to the wishes of the people,” he said.
Yesterday, sources pointed to Ruto’s recent tour of the Nyanza region in the company of Kang’ata. “Kang’ata presence during the Nyanza tour shocked many,” said the source.
Asked to comment on the DP replacement claims, Kang’ata said; “I can’t comment at the moment.”
But one person who read mischief in the Nyanza sojourn was Gachagua who is said to have confronted the Murang’a Governor in Siaya as to why he had accompanied the president without informing him.
“It’s true the DP asked raised the matter during the Nyanza tour but it was confrontational as it was rumored, that’s behind us anyway,” Kang’ata told People Daily.
Kang’ata is said to have held talks with ODM leader Raila Odinga two weeks ago over the matter but details were not made public.
President Ruto according to the source had initially preferred Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro but the youthful lawmaker’s star appears to be dimming after he opted to keep off the Gachagua impeachment motion in the National Assembly.
Append signature
Nyoro did not append his signature to the motion and was a no show during the voting in the National Assembly last week.
Murang’a leaders have over the years complained that the county was best suited to take over leadership, since the other populous counties, Kiambu and Nyeri have had their share.
While Kiambu has produced two presidents, Jomo Kenyatta and Uhuru Kenyatta, Nyeri had President Mwai Kibaki.
“It’s our turn as Murang’a people to ascend to the presidency, Kang’ata is the right person in leadership starting from the Councillors position,” added the source.
Meanwhile, Gachagua’s application to stop the Senate from processing his impeachment motion comes up for direction this morning before Justice Chacha Mwita.
In an application filed under a certificate of urgency, Gachagua lists at least 10 grounds he believes were used to aid what he terms a shambolic, unfair and a vicarious assault on him.
Gachagua, through his lead counsel Paul Muite, argues that the charges supported by 282 MPs in the National Assembly were unsupported allegations, hearsay and outright lies.
It is on these grounds Gachagua seeks to have Justice Chacha Mwita of the Milimani High Court dispense justice by prohibiting the Senate from proceeding with his impeachment hearing scheduled for next week.
The matter is expected in court today. This will be Gachagua’s 24th attempt, either directly or through proxies, in court to stop his removal from office, with other efforts proving futile.
This as Chief Justice Martha Koome is expected to empanel a three-judge bench to hear five cases challenging the impeachment of the DP.
The DP is set to face the trial chamber and defend himself on Thursday, 9am to 1pm.
