Kenyan lawmakers are planning to initiate impeachment proceedings against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, accusing him of undermining the government. This move, confirmed by parliament’s majority leader Kimani Ichung’wah, reflects a deepening rift between President William Ruto and his deputy.
Growing political crisis
The impeachment motion could exacerbate challenges for the Kenyan government, which is already reeling from recent unrest. Deadly protests erupted earlier this year over a contentious finance bill that proposed tax hikes. The widespread opposition forced President Ruto to shelve the bill in June and resulted in nearly his entire cabinet being replaced.
Kimani Ichung’wah, majority leader and MP for Kikuyu, confirmed his support for the impeachment. ‘I will support that impeachment motion to stop the process where government is being undermined and sabotaged from within,’ he stated on Sunday.
Gachagua responds to allegations
Deputy President Gachagua has denied allegations linking him to the unrest and has claimed he is being unfairly targeted. He suggested that any impeachment proceedings would need President Ruto’s approval. ‘Without the president’s go-ahead, the motion cannot reach parliament. If it reaches parliament, it is the president who has authorised it,’ Gachagua told reporters.
Gachagua’s influence in Kenya’s populous central region makes any move to oust him potentially destabilising, particularly given the recent political turbulence.
Mounting challenges for President Ruto
The impeachment attempt adds another layer of difficulty for President Ruto, whose government is already struggling to maintain stability after over 50 people were killed during protests against the finance bill. The unrest highlighted widespread dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of tax policies, misgovernance, and corruption.
In an effort to stabilise the situation, President Ruto reshuffled his cabinet in July, appointing four members from the main opposition party to foster a ‘broad-based’ government. However, activists criticised this move, arguing that it perpetuated a trend of co-opting opposition leaders instead of pursuing meaningful reforms.
The unfolding impeachment drama underscores the growing political tensions within Kenya’s leadership, raising concerns about the country’s stability as it navigates its most significant crisis since Ruto took office in 2022.
