A section of lawmakers
from the Mt Kenya region who had initially supported the motion to impeach
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua from office has now changed their stance.
Taking to different platforms, the leaders vowed
to vote a “No” come Tuesday next week.
Tetu MP Geoffrey Wandeto said he changed his
mind after his electorates directed him to.
He noted that “only a fool does not change his
mind”.
“When we ask our people they do not see this as
a priority. There are other priorities which we should be focusing on. As
representative of the people, it is upon us to listen and do what they have
asked,” he said.
“So on Tuesday, I will be voting no,” he added
amid cheers.
On her part, Nyeri Woman Rep Rahab Mukami said
after reading the motion on Gachagua’s ouster, she realised that he and his
boss President William Ruto could solve their issues amicably.
"After soul-searching and reading through
the motion I realised this is something our deputy president and the President
sit down and resolve because Kenya is bigger than all of us,” she said.
“I have listened to the ground and the people
of Nyeri have said they do not want the deputy president removed.”
Kieni MP Njoroge Wainaina also joined the list.
The three had already signed the motion supporting Gachagua’s impeachment, which was tabled before the National Assembly on Tuesday.
Gachagua is facing 11 impeachment grounds including inflammatory and inciteful utterances, undermining national unity, contradicting the president on critical matters, public attacks on judges and gross violation of the constitution.
Other grounds are abusive and insulting words, amassing questionable Sh5.2 billion wealth, insubordination, undermining the president, bullying KEMSA officials and failing integrity tests.
The National Assembly has since started public participation
on the ouster, in all 47 countries.
On Thursday, Gachagua lost his bid to halt the
public participation forums.
He argued that these forums should be conducted
in all 290 constituencies, as well as in the diaspora and the 1,450 electoral
wards where presidential elections occur.
In the documents submitted to the court, Gachagua
said the impeachment motion was based on falsehoods that constituted a
"choreographed political lynching designed to defeat the sovereign will of
the Kenyan people expressed at the presidential election held in August 2022”.