281 members of parliament voted on Tuesday, April 8, 2024, to remove Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua from office. One of them was Kirima Ngichine, the Imenti Central MP, who publicly expressed his worries following the vote.
Ngichine claims that President William Ruto promised Members that Interior Cabinet Secretary Professor Kithure Kindiki would succeed him as the new deputy president in the event that they voted to remove Gachagua from office.
Nonetheless, Ngichine stated that this assurance is now in question during his speech at a public protest in Meru today. He continued by pleading with the Senate not to make the same error as the National Assembly when they get ready to hear Gachagua’s defense.
“Ruto persuaded us to remove Gachagua from office by promising Kindiki would take his place. But he has changed his attitude after being impeached,” MP Kirima Ngichine stated. Meanwhile, political tension is building ahead of Gachagua’s Senate hearing next week.
On Wednesday and Thursday, the Senate is set to hear his defense. Subsequently, the Senate will determine whether to support the impeachment decision made by the National Assembly. Gachagua will formally resign as deputy president if they do.
Speculation has already started on Gachagua’s potential replacement in advance of the Senate’s decision. Though notably on the list of candidates to succeed Gachagua is Professor Kithure Kindiki, other leaders are also under consideration. Among them are Kirinyaga Governor Ann Waiguru, MP Mwangi Kiunjuri, National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.
By Nairobi