MPs being bribed, intimidated to impeach me - DP Gachagua

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has opened a Pandora's box in the Kenya Kwanza administration after he revealed that a section of Members of Parliament are being bribed and intimidated in a bid to move an impeachment motion against him.

Speaking during an exclusive interview with Citizen TV on Friday night, Gachagua disclosed that secret night meetings were held in Nyahururu and Kitisuru at the house of a Cabinet Secretary presumably to discuss how to remove him from office. 

Without mentioning the names of his detractors, the DP alleged that the MPs received bribes during the said meetings, claiming that most of them were coerced and intimidated to agree to the terms. 

"I am a consumer of information, and when you call people for a meeting thinking that you are keeping a big secret…we get to know these things when meetings are going on," he stated.

"Meetings have been held in Nyahururu, meetings were also held in Kitisuru in the house of a CS, we know what was being discussed. We know the amount of money that exchanged hands. We know these things."

The meeting held in Nyahururu this week saw over 69 MPs choose Interior CS Kithure Kindiki as their preferred Mt. Kenya political leader and essentially sidelining the deputy president. They termed the move as the 'Nyahururu Declaration.'

Further, reports indicated that a meeting held at a CS's house in the recent house that brought together 21 MPs resolved to impeach the DP. The MPs allegedly accused Gachagua of grossly violating the Constitution and gross misconduct,

Gachagua, however, allayed the fears of turmoil in the Mt. Kenya region, noting that he had the public's support. 

"Anybody with a problem with my leadership or my conduct has every business to talk to my employer. Those are the people who can appraise my performance," he noted.

The DP also explained his recent strained relationship with fellow politicians, noting that he often rubs people the wrong way owing to his truthful nature.

"It is everybody's knowledge that I am a truthful person. When I raised the issue of the Wakulima market I was called all sorts of names including a tribalist. In that market, there are traders from all communities. When I bring these problems to light, many people have a problem with me," he added. 

While addressing his relationship with his boss, President William Ruto, Gachagua noted that his rivals who set up meetings to impeach him often claim to receive the approval from the Head of State to carry out the mandate. 

He, however, said that he could not vilify his boss since he was not present during those meetings.

"I don't know whether he knows but many people quote him but he's not there. They invoke his name, saying he's the one who authorised those meetings but since he's not in those meetings, I cannot accuse him," he noted. 

He confirmed that under the ruling regime, no impeachment motion against him can be forwarded to the Parliament without the President's approval.