Impeached deputy president Rigathi Gachagua.courtesy photo
In a dramatic turn of events that has shaken East African politics, Kenya’s Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua was impeached on 8 October 2024, marking the first such removal of a deputy head of state since Kenya adopted its 2010 Constitution.
The National Assembly delivered a crushing blow to Gachagua’s political career, with an overwhelming majority of 281 lawmakers voting in favour of his removal, whilst only 44 stood in his defence. The impeachment motion cited eleven charges, including corruption allegations and what MPs described as a pattern of insubordination towards President William Ruto.
“The evidence against the Deputy President is overwhelming and compelling,” declared the motion’s principal sponsor in Parliament. “His conduct has not only undermined the presidency but has also brought disrepute to the office he holds.”
The fall from grace is particularly stark for Gachagua, who rose from relative obscurity as a one-term Member of Parliament to become Kenya’s second-in-command following the August 2022 elections. His tenure as Deputy President lasted barely two years before his dramatic ousting.
Political analysts point to a steadily deteriorating relationship between Gachagua and President Ruto as a crucial factor in his downfall. Dr James Mwangi, a political scientist at the University of Nairobi, observes: “The writing was on the wall for months. What began as subtle disagreements evolved into open defiance, creating an untenable situation in Kenya’s executive.”
The charges against Gachagua painted a picture of a deputy president increasingly at odds with his superior. Parliament’s charge sheet detailed instances of public contradiction of presidential directives and what was termed as “conduct unbecoming of the office of the Deputy President.”
In his defence before Parliament, Gachagua remained defiant. “This impeachment is nothing but a political witch-hunt,” he declared during heated proceedings. “The charges against me are fabricated, and the truth shall prevail in the fullness of time.”
The impeachment has sent shockwaves through Kenyan politics, with potential ramifications for regional stability. The East African nation, considered a beacon of democratic progress in the region, now faces the challenge of managing this constitutional crisis whilst maintaining political stability.
Legal experts suggest that Gachagua’s removal could face judicial scrutiny. Constitutional lawyer Martha Karua notes: “The impeachment process must meet both procedural and substantive constitutional thresholds. Any deviation from these requirements could be grounds for legal challenge.”
Gachagua’s political journey, from a District Commissioner to Deputy President, now faces an uncertain future. The impeachment bars him from holding elective office for ten years, effectively sidelining him from mainstream politics until 2034.
The fall of Gachagua serves as a cautionary tale in Kenyan politics, highlighting the precarious nature of political alliances and the consequences of power struggles within the executive. As one senior political analyst remarked, “This impeachment demonstrates that in Kenyan politics, today’s allies can become tomorrow’s adversaries.”
As Kenya navigates this unprecedented political situation, the focus now shifts to President Ruto’s next move in appointing a new deputy. Meanwhile, Gachagua’s legal team has indicated their intention to challenge the impeachment in court, ensuring that this political drama is far from its final chapter.
The impeachment not only marks the end of Gachagua’s brief stint as Deputy President but also sets a significant precedent in Kenyan constitutional history, demonstrating that no political office is beyond the reach of parliamentary oversight and constitutional accountability.
