Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is set to attend the launch of International Youth Week celebrations in Kisumu tomorrow at the Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium.

It will be the second time Gachagua is going to Kisumu County since he assumed office in September 2022.

The last time he was in town was during the National Music Festival competition held at Kisumu Girls’ High School in 2022.

Gachagua returns to the lakeside at a time when there is a raging debate to impeach him, with MPs, mainly from his Mt Kenya backyard said to be holding meetings to plot his ouster for allegedly undermining President William Ruto.

Allies grilled

Last week’s grilling of five of Rigathi’s allies and aides including two MPs James Gakuya (Embakasi North) and Benjamin Gathiru (Embakasi Central) over their alleged role in the financing of the anti-government protests has only complicated matters for him.

Gachagua has, however, received backing from a section of MPs from the region led by nominated legislator Sabina Chege and increasingly outspoken Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga, who have dared the DP’s detractors to “bring it on.”

His return to Nyanza comes at a time when relations between Ruto and Opposition leader Raila Odinga are very warm, following the latter’s role in helping the former reconstitute his cabinet, thereby easing tensions that threatened to bring down the government.

Gachagua’s disdain for Raila is well documented, with many pointing to his infamous vow to ensure the former Prime Minister does not set foot at State House, Nairobi.

His allies have always viewed Raila with suspicion, with Gachagua himself on record enumerating the number of times the ODM leader has manoeuvred his way to political power by cutting political deals with the sitting President.

 “This man brought down the Kanu government through the so-called cooperation, went ahead and undermined Mzee Kibaki during the days of the “Grand Coalition,” recently undermined Uhuru Kenyatta through the so-called “handshake,” is that the type of person you want to welcome to your house, Never,” Gachagua is famously quoted.

There have been murmurs that should the anti-Gachagua impeachment motion sail through, he could be succeeded by a female politician, with the names of Governors Anne Waiguru (Kirinyaga) and Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay) trending.