The noose appeared to tighten yesterday around embattled Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s neck as the government revealed plans to arrest his allies over recent protests, while MPs intensified efforts to gather signatures for his removal.

Sources revealed that MPs pushing for his impeachment were aiming to hit 300 signatures by this evening, ahead of the tabling of an impeachment motion in the National Assembly as early as Tuesday next week.

Separately, a caucus of governors, joined by ODM leader Raila Odinga’s spouse, threw their weight behind Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru to replace him as the Mt Kenya region kingpin heading to the 2027 elections.

But determined not to go down without a fight, Gachagua took the battle to President Ruto’s doorsteps, accusing him of using the criminal justice system to manage politics and reneging on a vow the two had made upon assuming office.

With the daggers from both sides drawn, the DP received support from the opposition brigade, led by Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka. They vowed to use all means to defend Gachagua from the onslaught launched by President Ruto’s associates.

Tension between the two camps heightened amid revelations that an impeachment motion against Gachagua could be tabled in Parliament on Tuesday, with reports suggesting it is ready and has received the necessary support from MPs.

“Signatures are overwhelming. Tribalism has no place in modern Kenya,” Saboti MP Caleb Amisi wrote on his X page.

A high-profile source told People Daily the motion had already been filed by Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa.

By yesterday evening, 241 MPs had appended their signatures to the motion. The threshold for the motion to be approved for tabling is one third of the membership of the House, meaning the mover has surpassed it.

Gachagua, in an apparent reference to what may happen in 2027, warned President Ruto that the “mountain is always ready to forgive, but does not forget”, as he signalled his readiness to join hands with the opposition at the next general election.

The DP maintained that he did not hold any political grudge against his opponents, particularly those pushing for his impeachment.

“As a people, we were there before, we are here today and we will be there tomorrow,” he added.

Speaking in Kieni, Nyeri county, at a memorial service for pupils who died in a dorm fire at Hillside Endarasha Academy, Gachagua said the mountain was welcoming and ready to work with those of similar minds to move Kenya forward.

The remarks were seen to mean that Gachagua had accepted Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and his Democratic Action Party counterpart Eugene Wamalwa’s intentions to work with leaders from Mt Kenya.

Earlier yesterday, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) recommended to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) that politicians allied to Gachagua be charged with various offences in relation to the recent Gen Z protests.

The DCI said they started investigating after receiving intelligence reports about the planning, mobilising and financing of violent protests where MPs Benjamin Gathiru Mwangi ‘Mejja Donk’ (Embakasi Central) and James Mwangi Gakuya (Embakasi North) and others were implicated following several meetings that took place at Hotel Boulevard in Nairobi.

As a result, the DCI recommended that Gathiru be charged with soliciting or inciting others to commit an offence, contrary to Section 391 of the Penal Code. Gathiru, Gakuya, former MP George Theuri, Martin Deric Ngunjiri Wambugu and Pius Munene will face the charge of conspiracy to commit a felony, contrary to Section 393 of the Penal Code.

 Gathiru is to face additional charges of money laundering, according to Abdalla Komesha, the director of investigations at the DCI headquarters.

Wambugu is a political adviser in the office of the DP, while Theuri is a youth affairs adviser in the same office. Munene is the DP’s private secretary.

Komesha said the two MPs were summoned on July 31 and their statements recorded but they “declined to hand over their mobile phones for forensic examination, necessitating a court action”.

An analysis of messages found on the mobile phones showed they had communicated with the suspects during the demonstrations.

“Efforts are being made to obtain all financial data from FRC, Safaricom and banks where financial transactions were carried out,” Komesha said.

But in a quick rejoinder, Gachagua accused the Kenya Kwanza administration of using the criminal justice system to manage politics.

“I am embarrassed that we are back to where we were. Harassment of my office staff and members of Parliament, perceived to be close to me, has been going on for the last two months,” Gachagua said in a statement.

He claimed he had learnt about a scheme to bring trumped-up charges against the close allies.

“This evil scheme is to associate them with violent demonstrations that took place in late June, in a futile attempt to soil my name and hopefully create grounds for the mooted impeachment proceedings against me,” he said.

Gachagua disassociated his allies from the violent anti-government protests.

“They know what factors made the people of Kenya take to the streets. Kenyans also know what the real problems in Kenya are. They surely know Rigathi Gachagua is not among them,” he added.

And in what could be perceived as a signal to the DP that his die is cast, governors Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay), Irungu Kang’ata (Murang’a) Fatuma Achani (Kwale), Ahmed Abdullahi (Wajir) and Wavinya Ndeti (Machakos) said Waiguru was better placed to succeed Gachagua.

Tellingly, the Kirinyaga chapter of the G7, a lobby group that brings together all seven elected governors, was attended by Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya (Defence) and Ida Odinga, spouse of Raila Odinga, and they all drummed up support for Waiguru.

“As your second term comes to an end, we would like you to go for a bigger seat that covers the whole country. You are geared for higher things after serving as a Cabinet secretary, governor and Council of Governors chair. Kirinyaga is known for producing good female leaders,” Wanga said.

For her part, Ida Odinga told Waiguru to aim higher in her political career, saying time was ripe for a female Deputy President or President.

“You have diligently served well in all the positions you have held, from the CS to the governor. And now it is time to aim higher,” she said.

And in Nyeri, Kalonzo and Wamalwa vowed to defend Gachagua, in honour of the late President Mwai Kibaki, under whose administration they both served.

“I want to tell our Deputy President that God is still on the throne and we still have a nation to mould together. There is political tension in this country and we need to pray,” Kalonzo said.

“As former vice president of Kibaki, I will stand with the people of Nyeri,” he added.

The leaders were with Gachagua, who was leading a memorial service for 21 pupils who perished in a dorm fire at Endarasha Hillside Academy.

Wamalwa said: “As we are mourning victims of the Endarasha fire tragedy, I have heard that there are plans to set this mountain on fire. But this mountain has friends too.”

“Kalonzo and I were allies of Kibaki. If that day comes, we will stand with you and you will never walk alone.”