Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua now says he has no beef with President William Ruto.
He said the residents of Mt Kenya region are willing to give Ruto time to fulfil the promises he made to them
"Hata rais hatuna shida na yeye sisi. Tunataka tumpee nafasi hizo miaka tatu, zile ahadi alialipeana atimize," he said.
This is loosely translated to, "We have no problem with the President. We want to give him time for the remaining three years to fulfil the promises he made."
He spoke when he attended a funeral service in Gichugu, Kirinyaga County.
Gachagua said everyone deserves time to fulfil the many promises they made during the campaign period.
He expressed satisfaction with the milestones achieved in the coffee sector reforms, which he oversaw during his time as the DP.
He noted that the Coffee Bill, 2023, is at the Parliament.
Gachagua said the speed used in impeaching him should be put into passing the coffee bill.
"The same speed and efficiency that you displayed in the National Assembly to impeach Rigathi Gachagua, use the same to pass the Coffee Bill, 2023 to become law," he said.
"Let it pass and be gazetted at night so early in the morning Ruto can assent it."
Gachagua asked those in power to let his legacy in fighting illicit brew in the region, stand firm.
He said the work should go on, so the young people in the region do not perish to alcohol and substance abuse.
"I would like to ask those who have the opportunity to serve the public to not let the work I did be in vain. Because you will be hurting the young people, not Rigathi Gachagua and his family," he said.
He regretted that alcoholism started to creep back into Mt Kenya region when his woes in government began.
“I did a lot to fight alcoholism, for two years because it's our house that it has been finishing. But since the time they started fighting and undermining me, alcoholism is back. It has started finishing our house again, and just know it's not me being fought, it's the region,” Gachagua added.
Gachagua was impeached by the National Assembly and in a historic move, the Senate upheld the impeachment and voted to remove him from office.
The outcome of the vote was the first time in the history of Kenya that the holder of the Office of the Deputy President has ceased to hold office through a trial borne out of impeachment proceedings.
The 67 lawmakers of the Senate found the DP guilty on five grounds but absolved him on six charges.