Aweek is indeed a long time in politics!
The events in the aftermath of the impeachment of Rigathi Gachagua as Deputy President have exposed how life has changed for the once second-most powerful man on the land.
Gachagua’s life has moved from a highly guarded person who moved around with a contingent of elite security officers complete with a chase cars to a lonely man without an aide, sitting on the wooded hard and cold benches in the courts.
Indeed, a day in politics is a long time and power, they say, is transient.
The former Mathira MP is battling in court to hang onto his job after Parliament – the Senate and National Assembly – impeached him last week for gross violation of the constitution, abuse of office and gross misconduct.
The impeachment has condemned Gachagua to an ‘ordinary’ man without the trappings of power that he has enjoyed for the last 25 months. While attending court proceedings, he neither has security detail nor protocol officers to clear his way and personal assistants to carry his phones.
Last week, his security and vehicles were dramatically withdrawn and his senior staff sent on compulsory leave.
It has emerged that even junior staff who were hired under Gachagua’s tenure staff been denied access to their offices.
The impeached DP has been sitting through the proceedings in the packed courtroom. Days ago, his presence would not go unnoticed neither would he sit in a congested room without prior security arrangements.
Gachagua cut the figure of a lonely man with only his son Keith Ikinu and a few political allies seated next to him.
They included senators Karungo Thang’wa (Kiambu), John Methu (senator) and MPs Gathoni Wamuchomba (Githunguri) and James Gakuya (Embakasi North).
Others were Kate Waruguru (former MP) and former UDA secretary general Cleophas Malala.
“So, Gachagua and his family feel very exposed because these people have tried to kill us before. They have now tried to get us out of office,” the impeached DP said at Karen Hospital last Sunday.
“I ask Ruto, my brother, I helped you to be President. Leave me alone. Leave my children alone,” Gachagua added.
“Do whatever you want, but let me live. Let me look after my children. You can do whatever you want with the country, but allow me to live because I was there for you when you needed somebody to be there for you. You have paid us in kind by being so cruel and vicious against us.”
The Star has established that besides the withdrawal of the security personnel and aides, Gachagua has been ‘kicked’ out of the official residence of the Deputy President in Karen, Nairobi.
Sources say that on or around the time he was impeached, police trucks carted away his personal belongings from the Karen residence to his private home within the high-end area.
It’s unclear whether he moved out voluntarily or was pushed to do so but the timing of the vacation of the residence points to a man pushed out.
“He is no longer there. Everything was removed that night,” a source said.
The residence, a posh home complete with offices and recreational facilities for the DP and his family, was recently renovated at a cost of more than Sh600 million to befit the standards and dignity the office holder.
Renovation of the building is among the accusations Gachagua faced in the impeachment motion. In the charges against him, he is accused of influencing the renovation of the posh home.
The former administrator has been holding high-level meetings at the residence, including with ambassadors and development partners. In addition, Gachagua no longer visits the Harambee Annex – the official Office of the Deputy President.
“I cannot remember the last time he came to Annex. He holds all meetings in Karen. His visit to Annex is occasional,” a source said.
The Star has also established that security personnel at Harambee Annex have been reshuffled and new ones brought in.
The government has sent on compulsory leave all the staff attached to the impeached DP, with some 108 senior officials sent packing The affected staff are those whose terms of service are tied to Gachagua.
“Following the ongoing constitutional process affecting His Excellency the Deputy President, it has been decided as follows:All officers in job groups T and U are hereby instructed to proceed on compulsory leave with immediate effect.
“All serving officers in supernumerary contracts shall also proceed on compulsory leave with immediate effect,” reads the memo by Principal Administrative Secretary Patrick Mwangi.
Those affected include advisers, senior staff and private secretaries, among others.
Mwangi, in the memo copied to Head of Public Service Felix Koskei, further directed all heads of department to ensure they appoint people who will be responsible for the affected offices.
“All heads of department are directed to ensure they designate in writing a responsible officer to be in charge of their respective departments with a copy to the Chief of Staff and the Principal Administrative Secretary. “All heads of department shall ensure conformity to these directives by 1200hrs on October 19, 2024.”
However, the Star has established that even junior officials who worked for Gachagua have been sent home.
“We were all told to go home. We no longer go there,” an official told the Star.