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Sources say Gachagua is being accused of insubordination, undermining the presidency and fueling anti-government protests
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He has been receiving attacks from some leaders in his Mt Kenya backyard.
Image: DPCS
Controversy has surrounded an alleged plot to impeach Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua with some Mt Kenya MPs claiming his handlers are behind the ‘rumours.’
In a new twist, MPs who spoke to the Star yesterday dismissed the claims and instead turned the heat on Gachagua's allies.
“That is a rumour coming from Gachagua’s supporters and staff,” Gatanga MP Edward Muriu said.
Mbeere North MP Geoffrey Ruku, who is said to be sponsoring the motion, distanced himself from the claims.
“That is just a rumour. There is nothing like that. I’m not planning to sponsor such a motion,” he said.
The development comes as the DP appears to be facing troubles in the ruling Kenya Kwanza Coalition.
There have been reports of night meetings and behind-the-scene schemes to ouster the country’s second in command.
Sources say Gachagua is being accused of insubordination, undermining the presidency and fueling anti-government protests.
He has been receiving attacks from some leaders in his Mt Kenya backyard.
Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga, Gachagua’s staunch supporter, said any attempt to impeach him will come with dire political consequences.
“Where an impeachment motion is being considered against the deputy president, I want to make it very clear that that is an affront towards the mountain,” he said on Tuesday.
“It is an attack on us and we will not take it lying down, but it has its consequences. Whoever feels that that is the way to go, we kindly tell them to bring it on."
Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba also alleged a plot to remove the deputy president.
“For now, those drafting the impeachment and whipping MPs alert us when you are ready for the monkey dance,” Wamuchomba posted on X.
She said presenting an ‘impeachment agenda against Gachagua is a decoy to shift the attention from allegations of massive corruption and open inefficiency on issues flagged by Kenyans.’
“Someone thinks bringing a tribal card against the DP and leaders of Mt. Kenya will diffuse the rot in Kenya Kwanza government as highlighted by the protestors,” Wamuchomba said.
Embakasi North MP James Gakuya, a close ally of Gachagua, has faulted a Kiambu MP for leading the impeachment.
He said the MP has been leading the plot by spearheading signature collection.
Nominated MP Sabina Chege said though she heard about the claims, she is against any plan, whether real or imaginary, to impeach the DP.
The lawmaker challenged the President to put his House in order.
“If the President can engage Raila [Odinga] and agree, why can’t he engage his deputy whom he was together with during campaigns?” she asked.
Chege urged the political class to shift focus to issues as opposed to individuals as the elections are more than three years away.
On Tuesday, DCI detectives questioned Gachagua’s handlers over their involvement in the recent anti-government protests that rocked the country.