I have evidence for all impeachment grounds against Gachagua: MP Mutuse

Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse, the mover of the impeachment motion against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, on Tuesday maintained he has evidence to back all allegations against the DP.

Appearing before the National Assembly where MPs are debating the motion, Mutuse presented video clips of the DP in February 2023 when he made his infamous comments about the government being ‘a company’ where some Kenyans are ‘majority shareholders’ and others ‘have none’.

The MP said Gachagua’s comments risk dividing the country and plunging it into negative ethnicity politics.

“I have 14 other videos of the Deputy President in different parts of the country speaking in the same, same language… Divisive ethnic politics are dangerous… there is evidence to show during the post-election clashes in Molo, he was a district officer. If the person occupying the high office of the deputy president wants to take Kenya in that direction, the time has come for Parliament to defend the constitution and impeach him,” Mutuse said.

Mutuse said he has records to back accusations that Gachagua ordered demolitions in the Mavoko area of Athi River, Machakos County and that he has undermined devolution and interfered with the running of the Nairobi City county government.

Similarly, the MP told Parliament that Gachagua has persistently made inflammatory, reckless, inciteful public utterances over the last two years in contravention of the law and rallied them to support his motion.

“He has not lived to the calling; he has not lived up to the Constitution and the oath of office,” Mutuse said, “Please vote to impeach Rigathi Gachagua on all the grounds.”

In the ouster bid, 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.

The DP has however dismissed all the accusations as fabricated and baseless, telling a press conference on Monday night: “There is nothing here that violates the constitution… no gross misconduct. I am innocent in all these allegations.”

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

He also trashed numerous calls for his resignation from a section of the public and politicians, telling journalists: “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,” Gachagua said, “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.”