Kenya’s Deputy President, Rigathi Gachagua, who is facing possible impeachment, has announced that he will defend himself before the National Assembly on Tuesday. Speaking from his official residence in Nairobi on Monday, Gachagua confirmed he will present his defense for two hours before the 349-member assembly, which will later vote on whether to impeach him.
For the impeachment motion to pass to the Senate, at least two-thirds of the National Assembly — 233 members — must vote in favor. If the Senate, consisting of 67 members, proceeds with the case, a two-thirds majority vote — or 45 members — would result in Gachagua being removed from office.
One of the key accusations against Gachagua involves the alleged illegal acquisition of wealth amounting to 5.2 billion Kenyan shillings (around $40.3 million) over the past two years. Mwengi Mutuse, who initiated the impeachment motion, claims Gachagua’s income from his deputy president salary totaled only 24 million shillings ($186,000) during this period. Mutuse also noted that in 2022, Gachagua declared his net worth at 800 million shillings ($6.8 million).
Gachagua, 59, is also accused of undermining the government and engaging in ethnic politics, particularly favoring his own Central Kenya community. Critics argue he has failed to act as a national leader, instead focusing on the interests of a single region.
In his defense, Gachagua dismissed the accusations as “sensational lies” and indicated that his legal team will challenge the impeachment process in court, particularly the public participation process, which he described as “shoddy” and not meeting constitutional standards. He defended his business ventures, including dairy farming and hotels, asserting that they are legitimate and some of his wealth was inherited from his late brother, Nderitu Gachagua, a former governor of Nyeri County.
While some expected him to resign, Gachagua made it clear that he intends to fight the charges, both in parliament and through the courts, to prove his innocence.
