Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has defended himself from accusations of disrespecting the National Assembly by describing the debate on his impeachment as ‘theatre of the absurd’.
While defending himself on the floor of the House against the impeachment charges Tuesday evening, the DP said his remarks were on allegations that he was undermining devolution by holding meetings to fight illicit brew.
Tiaty MP William Kamket had initially demanded that Gachagua render an apology over the remarks before he proceeded with his defence.
“I’m sorry, Mr Speaker, if the House took it that I said the House is a theatre of the absurd. I was talking about this specific charge of ‘undermining devolution by holding meetings to fight alcohol’ to be discussed in this House,” Gachagua said.
“That to me, that moment—five or ten minutes—that would be the theatre of the absurd. I did not attribute in any way by trying to demean this House that I served for five years by calling it the theatre of the absurd,” the DP explained.
Gachagua said drug and alcohol abuse has been on the rise in the country and affected a great number of youth. You have become addicts and destroyed their lives.
He said many have dropped out of school to engage in crime to look for money to buy alcohol.
“I’m a strong advocate for youth rehabilitation from alcohol and substance abuse, which I will continue to encourage and support in order to save our future,” the DP said.
He said in this regard, he held meetings with governors in Meru, Chuka, Mombasa, Nakuru, and Nyeri counties in the exercise of his duties as delegated to him by President William Ruto.
“We have been very successful, and we have been working with governors and county assemblies who have been developing legislation on the control and licensing of alcoholic drinks.”
Gachagua said the programme to fight illicit brew has had a good working relationship between the county governments and the national government.
“I’m a bit emotive about illicit alcohol because I lost my brothers; one was a medical doctor to alcohol, the other was a farmer to alcohol,” he said.
Speaking during a prayer service on Sunday at his official residence in Karen, the DP asked the President and MPs to forgive him if, in the running of the boy child rehabilitation programme with his wife, Pastor Dorcas Rigathi, they had wronged them.
“I don’t know who complained about this particular charge, I have not seen any evidence of any complaint, and I have not heard any person in Kenya complaining that the Deputy President is undermining Devolution by leading the war on illicit brew,” Gachagua told MPs.
“Whatever happens in this House tonight and the other subsequent House, whatever happens to Rigathi Gachagua, this war must continue and must be won for the sake of our children.”