Gachagua: I don't miss the trappings of power

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua during an interview with KTN New at his Karen residence on February 24, 2025/HANDOUT

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has said he is a peaceful man, four months after lawmakers voted to impeach him.

Speaking during an interview with KTN, Gachagua said he does not have stress since being hounded out of office.

“Life is good; I am a very peaceful man. I sleep well, and I am a happy man with no stress. Nobody abuses me, nobody insults me, nobody quarrels with me,” he asserted.

Gachagua added that he has found a lot of love since he was removed from office.

“I spend a lot of time in the village with my fellow villagers, genuine people, good people, catching up an seeing how life will be. I am a very happy man; I do not miss trappings of power. Peace is priceless; I am a very peaceful man,” he said.

The Senate voted to sack Gachagua from office by impeachment on October 17, 2024.

Gachagua, who pleaded not guilty to the charges of corruption, abuse of office, and inciting ethnic divisions, became the first sitting deputy president in the country to be removed from office by impeachment.

It followed an October 8 vote by the National Assembly, which overwhelmingly supported his removal.

Gachagua was accused of amassing about 5.2 billion Kenyan shillings in illicit deals during his two years in office.

He faced 11 charges including insubordination to the president, inciting ethnic violence, corruption, undermining government and money laundering, among others.

Gachagua rejected the charges against him as being politically motivated.

Senators found him guilty of five counts of “gross violation” of the constitution including practising ethnically divisive politics and threatening judges. He was, however, cleared of six charges, including corruption.