Aldai Constituency Member of Parliament Marianne Kitany has opened up on some of the intrigues that led to the impeachment of Rigathi Gachagua by the National Assembly.

Speaking on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, during a televised interview with K24 TV, the lawmaker who once served as President William Ruto’s aide when the Head of State was the deputy president, claimed that the Office of the Deputy President was never available during Gachagua’s reign.

While supporting the ouster of Gachagua, Kitany stated that the impeachment motion belonged to the National Assembly and that Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse was only a carrier.

She dismissed claims of an outside hand in the impeachment motion against Gachagua, arguing that the embattled DP had been given enough time to redeem himself, not just during the impeachment process, but way before.

According to the lawmaker, the plot to oust Gachagua was hatched a long time ago after he failed to act on the issues the lawmakers had raised.

Gachagua inaccessible

She states that Gachagua was not easily accessible and that he could not even pick up calls from a section of MPs.

“For a long time, not just at the impeachment process but way before, we have had instances where we have had to go and say we needed the country to unify. Some of us have complained that the Office of the Deputy President was not available for us to access the office and raise our issues as Members of Parliament. And therefore if I am unable to get to the office that is supposed to sort out my issues, then that office stops to be the office it is supposed to unify. The issues we raised, and the time he was given to respond was enough, he had two years,” she stated.

“We raised the issues but for two years, he never responded. When the President is not available, the Deputy is supposed to unify us. We requested him to allow us see him but he never even picked up calls. Some of us have never even shaken his hand.”

Hon. Marianne Kitany: The office of the Deputy President was never available. As MPs, we could not go to raise issues. He never even picked up phone calls.#NewDawn pic.twitter.com/oRumf00Bla

— K24 TV (@K24Tv) October 23, 2024

Gachagua fights ouster

Meanwhile, the impeached Gachaguas is challenging the appointment of Kithure Kindiki as the deputy president, having earlier acquired conservatory orders blocking the DP’s replacement.

A three-judge bench will rule today, Wednesday, October 23, 2024, at 3.30 pm, whether they will withdraw from the case.

Justices Eric Ogola, Anthony Mrima, and Freda Mugambi set the date after the parties extensively submitted information on how they were appointed to hear the case.

Gachagua through his team of advocates led by Senior Counsel Paul Muite argued that the only person who can empanel a bench is the chief justice.

The case challenging orders blocking the appointment of Kindiki was filed by Solicitor General Shadrack Mose.

Mose seeks to set aside the orders blocking Kindiki’s swearing-in to succeed Gachagua as the Deputy President.

In his application, Mose argues the order is against the country’s interest to delay Kindiki’s swearing-in as the constitution does not envisage a vacancy in the office of the Deputy President.

“The said conservatory orders were issued ex-parte and without according to the state or the National Assembly or the parties a chance to be heard,” the application reads.