Day of reckoning as 291 MPs sign to oust DP Gachagua from Office

A total of 291 of the 345 members of the National Assembly appended their signatures in support of the impeachment motion against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, exposing the soft underbelly of the number two in command.

There were a few surprises, as Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro gave the process a wide berth despite being a trusted foot soldier of President William Ruto.

After days of speculation about whether or not there were enough numbers to introduce his impeachment motion, the numbers were overwhelming. It was the moment of truth and an hour of reckoning for DP Gachagua.

The DP only managed less than 20% of the House, as the MPs in the National Assembly shot over and beyond the required 117-member threshold by 174 members to have the historic motion tabled.

From the onset, the stage was set, with the mood of the house hyped, as some members turned into cheerleaders who shouted the name "patriot" whenever the name of the member who signed the motion was excitedly read out by the mover, Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse.

Some of the notable names that stood to be counted during the 2:30 PM heated session included that of Jubilee nominated MP Sabina Chege, who has in the recent past come out strongly to defend the deputy president.

Those who supported the motion called for the security of President William Ruto and their own, by extension, to be beefed up.

“Walisema bendera itakuwa nusu mlingoti by March 2025…these are weighty matters,” said NA Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah.

However, Gachagua did not walk alone despite being lonely at the top; 54 members currently serving did not sign the ouster motion, choosing to watch from a distance.

Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro, who has fashioned himself as President Ruto’s blue-eyed boy, did not feature in the long list of supporters of the motion, whose names were preceded by chants of "patriot!"

A majority of the MPs from his county of Murang’a stood with the ‘truthful man’, who is facing new realities.

Others, including Marakwet West MP Timothy Kipchumba from President Ruto’s Elgeyo Marakwet bastion, opined that there were no sufficient grounds to hang the noose on Gachagua’s neck.

The National Assembly currently has 345 members, 4 members shy of the constitutional 349 occupants. Banisa, Magarini, and Ugunja constituencies are vacant, while ODM’s nomination slot previously occupied by Treasury CS John Mbadi is yet to be filled.