BY STEPHEN ASTARIKO
Disability advocates fiercely oppose
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s ongoing impeachment process,
arguing that it is not a solution to
the nation’s numerous challenges.
Saturday marked the conclusion of the two-day nationwide public participation forum.
While some participants advocated for Gachagua’s removal, some expressed support.
FORMS DESTROYED
Public involvement forms were destroyed by enraged citizens in certain parts of the nation and goons attacked activist Morara Kebaso at the Bomas of Kenya, resulting in violent scenes.
Speaking to the media at the weekend, the group—led by Hafi d Maalim, the chairman of its North Eastern branch—said the decision would not address the numerous difficulties Kenyans were facing.
The present course of events, he said, will only serve to demoralise Kenyans and take the government’s attention away from urgent problems facing the nation. Hafid said Kenyans are not interested in the impeachment process based on the responses seen during the public participation.
People with disability are typically the most severely affected whenever there is instability in the nation, and the current events have caused sleepless nights.
“We, the PWDs, are vehemently opposed to this impeachment process that aims to remove the DP from office, as are a great number of Kenyans nationwide. It is a total waste of time."
SPEAKING WITH ONE VOICE
"Speaking with one voice is more important for the nation’s health than divisive politics,” Maalim said.
“ The president, who stands for national unity, ought to speak out on the issue, adding that doing so will significantly contribute to reducing the growing political unrest that he said was detrimental to the nation.”
“I want to urge the President to end this continuing exercise by making amends with his deputy and to speak up. “It is very concerning that he is silent during this entire ordeal. He needs to increase public confidence by cooperating with the individuals he chose rather than opposing them,” he added.
URGENT ISSUES
Adan Bille, the PWD chairman for the Garissa chapter, said the President should not lose focus on reforming the nation, citing numerous issues that need to be addressed.
“Let us put an end to these issues, which in my opinion are just smokescreens for the actual problems that require attention. “We still have an unstable economy. There are problems with the new SHA that Kenyans are still unaware of. The issue of the JKIA takeover appears to have been neglected,” he added.
Despite calls from religious leaders for leaders to halt the impeachment process, Ruto has remained silent on the matter since it surfaced.
A showdown looms in the National Assembly tomorrow, when the DP
will present himself in the impeachment proceedings to defend himself.
He has assembled 20 lawyers.