Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, apologised to the National Assembly over remarks he made at his official Karen residence on Monday, October 7, 2024.

Before embarking on his defence on the floor of the house, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula urged Gachagua to apologise given that he was an immediate former member of the Mathira Constituency.

However, Gachagua said that his remarks for calling the parliament a ‘theatre of the absurd’ were informed by one of the grounds presented for his impeachment, which accuses him of undermining devolution by allegedly holding meetings to fight alcohol.

“I am sorry, Mr Speaker, if the House took it that I said that the house is the theatre of the absurd. I was talking about this specific charge of undermining devolution. I did not attribute to demean the house that I sat in for five years,” Gachagua explained.

Fight against alcohol

Gachagua revealed that one of the projects to which he could attest to the nation that had achieved results was the fight against illicit brews.

He mentioned that the war against drugs was close to his heart and that regardless of the outcome of the Tuesday vote, he would continue in the war against alcohol.

“I am a bit emotional when it comes to alcohol because I lost my brothers. One was a medical doctor. I take this fight passionately,” Gachagua told MPs.

While defending himself at Parliament, Gachagua used video clips from different media stations to defend his position against his accusers.

In some instances, Gachagua replayed old clips from when Ruto was Deputy President, saying he was just learning from his boss.

He said he would continue supporting policy decisions they made to their voters in the run-up to the 2022 general elections.

He revealed that he had not contradicted the president by going against a cabinet decision to demolish settlements along the Nairobi River. 

Gachagua played a clip from the archives where Ruto stated that his government would make sure that people are dignified during the demolition of their settlement structures.

The MPs are set to decide on Gachagua’s fate before the motion is put to rest or proceeds to the Senate in two days where he will be investigated and a vote taken in support or against his impeachment.

Gachagua also gave an emotional appeal to members of Parliament to carefully look at the grounds and make an informed choice.