Senators Onyonka, Thang’wa clash over Riggy G ouster

Kiambu Senator Karungo Thang’wa and his Kisii counterpart Richard Onyonka clashed on Tuesday night over former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s impeachment.

It all started after the Kiambu Senator responded to a video of Onyonka admitting to having voted to impeach Gachagua based on information he had been given by the Nyeri Senator.

In the video seen by the Star, Onyonka also claimed the Nyeri Senator Wamatinga Wahome is a brother-in-law to the former DP.

In his response, Thang’wa insisted that the two were not related, adding that the Kisii Senator could have been misinformed or he made up the story.

“This video highlights a troubling level of ignorance that some legislators seem to entertain. How can someone admit to impeaching a Deputy President based on hearsay and rumours rather than on concrete grounds? "Ati niliambiwa!" First of all, the senator in question (Sen. Wamatinga) is not related to my Deputy President, Rigathi Gachagua.

“Either Senator Onyonka was misinformed, or he fabricated the claim entirely. And if he was indeed misled, it speaks volumes about his character,” Thang’wa said.

While responding to the remarks, Onyonka told off the Kiambu Senator saying Thang’wa should not count him as one of his problems because is also not the impeached DP.

He added that Thang’wa’s anger towards his decision is only based on personal tribal interests.

Onyoka insisted that his decision to vote in favour of the impeachment motion was based on evidence and not just information.

“Bwana Senator, in your self-soothing brawls, don't count Onyonka as one of your problems. You are not Gachagua. Your irritability towards my decisions, which were based on information and evidence, is informed by personal interest dictated by tribal bigotry. The contrast is loud!” he said on X.

Thang’wa is one of the legislators who stood in defence of Gachagua’s impeachment in the Senate.

Even after the impeachment, he has remained one of the former DP’s closest allies.