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ARTICLE BY PETER KAGWANJA
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s impeachment was largely expected.
When the broad-based government was formed, Gachagua and his allies knew it was just a matter of time.
By joining hands with former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, President William Ruto had the numbers.
It also didn’t help that the impeached Deputy President spoke the insulting way he did, singling out the National Intelligence Service.
Nobody talks about those people like that. They prefer any discussion to be discreet. If you’re in doubt, ask the family of JF Kennedy.
They will tell you what it means. Ask the Russians why Vladimir Putin is still in charge. These are the realities of power. It was clear that it was going to be messy and ugly in the end. It was unavoidable.
Our system does not allow for a tangible removal of a deputy president. The way it stands, it is a messy business. There are two aspects to this.
There is the political bit, which entails mobilising and voting in the National Assembly, as well as at the Senate. After that, the Senate doesn’t convict and doesn’t pass a sentence, it promotes itself as a house of inquiry.
It then pronounces itself on whether it has found charges sustainable or not. The second arena of impeachment is the court of law.
It was clear to Gachagua and his team that their case was not at Parliament but at the court. Ruto’s team also knew that was where the real battle was going to be fought.
They are all praying the mess is short, with Gachagua praying to be reinstated, and Ruto praying he will swear in Kithure Kindiki, the Interior CS, as the new DP.
Then Gachagua could spend his life in court. The third space, which is part of this process but is largely ignored, is the court of public opinion.
This is where the impeached deputy president has played extremely well. He has mastered the art of the game in the court of public opinion.
For those asking whether he can sustain his performance. THe answer is yes, he will. Kenya is intensely political. We are very intensely political animals. The drama makes the day. This will continue.
Political analyst and governance
specialist spoke to Star