Gachagua: Anybody telling me to resign is a joker

Deputy President Rigathi Gchagua on Monday said he would not resign amid the impeachment motion against him over a raft of allegations among them gross misconduct.

In the DP ouster bid pushed by Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse, Gachagua is accused of making inciteful remarks, undermining President William Ruto and the Cabinet, interfering with the leadership of the Nairobi County government, attacking High Court Judge Esther Maina, and bullying, among others.

At a press conference on Monday night, hours before the motion's hearing in the National Assembly, Gachagua made nonsense of numerous calls for his resignation from a section of the public and politicians.

“I was elected by 7.2 million Kenyans; how dare you suggest I resign without public participation? I have no intention of resigning from this job… I will fight until the end,” he told journalists.

“I will get justice and carry out my duties as DP. Anybody sending me messages to resign is a joker. I have done nothing wrong to Kenyans.”

He maintained he has been “loyal” to his boss, President Ruto.

Gachagua also defended his source of wealth in light of allegations he has acquired multi-million-shilling property illegally.

In the impeachment motion, Mutuse accuses Gachagua of amassing wealth illegally by using his spouse Dorcas Rigathi, their two sons and other close family members as proxies.

The MP claims Gachagua uses 22 companies to launder money and conceal proceeds of crime. 

But at the press conference at his official residence in Karen, Nairobi, Gachagua maintained he has been a businessman long before he became Ruto’s deputy.

“Rigathi Gachagua was a businessman before he became a politician and he had a life and that life is part of his history. Getting companies that were associated with him 15 years, 13 and 10 years ago and publishing them is just being mischievous. My life did not start as deputy president,” Gachagua told journalists.

“Luckily for me, it was during [former President Mwai] Kibaki’s era when things were working and the economy was strong. I made money with those companies.”

He said his previous work in public service and the private sector he has been “an astute businessman” and dismissed Mutuse’s allegations as sensational and baseless.

After he became DP, Gachagua said he transferred some of the companies to his children but advised them not to do business with government because of conflict of interest.

“No company owned by my children has ever done business with the government and I am demanding for proof from Mutuse or anybody else linking the Rigathi Gachagua family with business deals with the Kenya government,” he said, adding that the MP “had better be very careful.”

Mutuse claims Gachagua has amassed properties worth Ksh.5.2 billion illegally.

"The value of the property and wealth that his Excellency Rigathi Gachagua has acquired over the last two years is incompatible with his known legitimate income (Ksh.12 million per annum or thereabouts)," the motion reads in part. 

Gachagua said on Monday: “There is nothing here that violates the constitution… no gross misconduct. I am innocent in all these allegations.”

On his Sunday plea for forgiveness from President Ruto, legislators and Kenyans, Gachagua said it was not admission of wrongdoing.

During a church service at the Karen residence, Gachagua said if he has wronged anyone as deputy president, they should find it in their hearts to forgive him.

"I want to say to my brother President William Ruto if, in our zeal to work, I have wronged you, please find it in your heart to forgive me. If my spouse, in her duties with the boychild, has wronged you in any way, please find it in your heart to forgive her," Gachagua pleaded on Sunday.

But on Monday, he hardened his position, telling journalists: “My apology to the President yesterday is in no way an admission of these ridiculous allegations meant to overturn the people’s will.”

Gachagua said he would present before Parliament on Tuesday to defend himself against the grounds listed in his impeachment motion.