Impeached Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and his allies are staring at more trouble, as the reality of his dramatic ouster sinks in.
Gachagua is facing political and criminal distress even as he fights his removal from office - now through the courts. His allies - who have been vocal against his impeachment and openly criticising President William Ruto - have not been spared either.
Already, Ruto’s majority side has orchestrated a ruthless purge targeting Gachagua’s allies whom they accused of undermining the President’s leadership.
The Star has established that a plan to remove the former Deputy President’s foot soldiers from House leadership committees is looming.
“If amongst the charges the DP is facing is undermining the President and you support him, what are you telling us ? That you are also undermining the President?” a pro-government MP told the Star in confidence.
A senior Kenya Kwanza MP familiar with the happenings revealed that plans are afoot to strike immediately after the House is done with the ouster bid.
Once the dust settles, sources told the Star that a Parliamentary Group meeting will be convened to agree on the replacements.
“I am aware of very advanced talks to crack the whip immediately the whole issue of impeachment is dispensed with,” the MP disclosed.
Said to be targeted are lawmakers who hold lucrative positions in the House and who defied the ruling coalition, supporting the besieged DP during the impeachment vote.
Those who will be shown the door are MPs who serve as chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of various committees. Parliamentary committees are crucial to the operations of the bicameral House and have sweeping powers in approving government policy and budget preparation.
Some of the DP’s allies in the National Assembly who hold positions in committees include Embakasi North MP, James Gakuya, who chairs the powerful Trade Committee.
Vocal Githunguri MP Muthoni Wamuchomba, who chairs the influential National Assembly Constitution and Implementation oversight committee, is another of the former DP’s supporters.
The two are among 44 lawmakers who voted to save Gachagua. In the Senate, Karungo Thang’wa and his Murang’a counterpart Joe Nyutu are marked men.
Senator Nyutu chairs the Committee on Education while Thang’wa is the chairman of the committee on Roads, Transportation and Housing.
The move could worsen the frosty relationship in Kenya Kwanza and may trigger an implosion in Mt Kenya, given that the majority of those targeted hail from the restive region.
Additionally, a plot has been hatched to kick Gachagua out of the ruling UDA party, a move that will render him partyless.
UDA secretary general Hassan Omar on Sunday announced the party does not recognise the impeached DP, confirming plans to convene a meeting to expel him.
“Gachagua must now accept that the ground has shifted and move on,” Omar said.
A section of MPs have demanded that the former DP be investigated by the EACC and Directorate of Criminal Investigations, to explain how he accumulated Sh5.2 billion wealth in two years.
Gachagua’s impeachment comes with another political price - the ex DP will be barred permanently from holding elective or public office. He was also summoned by the DCI over allegations he made of attempts to assassinate him.
Gachagua will also be walking out empty-handed, having lost all his hefty exit perks, should the court fail to overturn the impeachment.