COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli has weighed in on the ongoing debate on impeachment of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
Atwoli has called for a re-evaluation of the position within the government.
Reiterating his earlier call to have the DP’s position remain as an appointment of the president rather than a running mate, Atwoli said there would be no such circus as currently witnessed.
He argued that as it is, there is a perception of shared authority and some entitlement that the officeholders feel they are equal to the president which he noted should not be the case.
“The deputy president should be an appointee of the president, because once he becomes a running mate he feels he is also a president,” he said.
“A deputy president should not be heard unless he has been told so. We can’t have two presidents at a time,” he noted.
This comes after Tana River Senator Danson Mungatana filed a censure motion against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
The lawmaker said he filed the motion with the office of the Speaker of the Senate early Monday.
He alleges the DP has engaged in divisive politics and betrayed his oath of office among others.
A censure motion is a debate to show strong disapproval against the conduct of a state officer; it's not an impeachment motion.
The DP is facing growing isolation amid an alleged impeachment motion, which has served to further alienate him in government and has somewhat resorted to fighting back by endearing himself to the voters through public rallies.
DP during an interview on Citizen TV on Friday lamented about being removed from President William Ruto's diary WhatsApp group.
Last week, National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah dismissed claims of an impeachment motion.
Speaking in Siaya, Alego Usonga, Ichung'wah stated that no Member of Parliament has attempted to collect signatures for such a motion.
"As the Majority Leader, I can tell Kenyans there has never been any impeachment plans against him (DP)," he stated.
The Majority Leader emphasised that the impeachment motions are a legal and constitutional oversight tool that applies to state officers, including the President and the Deputy President.
"If any member feels the President has gone against the law or the constitution, they are at liberty to bring an impeachment motion and it will be considered on merit," he said.
Ichung'wah also urged Gachagua to focus on promoting the agenda of the Kenya Kwanza government.
During a TV interview, Gachagua revealed that he had approached President Ruto to discuss an alleged impeachment plot against him.
Gachagua stated that the President dismissed it, saying that no one is capable of pushing such an agenda.
The DP further said that no motion of impeachment against a deputy president can sail to Parliament unless the President gives the nod.