'Only Kenyans can remove me from my position!' Gachagua hits out at MPs plotting his impeachment

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has slammed a section of Members of Parliament for allegedly conspiring to impeach him from office just two years into his tenure.

Speaking in Marikiti Market in Nairobi on Friday, Gachagua asserted that the legislators are among his political detractors, claiming that they have been bribed by influential figures in government to tarnish his reputation and hound him out of office.  

Gachagua visited the market in response to last week's protests by traders against the Nairobi County Government's planned eviction of the vending centre to Kangundo Road market.

"Wananitisha mimi; ati watakusanya wabunge wanifukuze. Wananiuzia uoga ndio wanitoe kwa kiti na waweke kibaraka wao," said Gachagua.

"Nilichaguliwa na wakenya; sikuchaguliwa na wabunge. (Lakini) nyinyi mnakusanya wajumbe, mnawapatia pesa na kuwahonga, ati wauzie Rigathi Gachagua uoga. Nilichaguliwa na Wakenya na wao ndio watanitoa kwa kiti, wakati ukifika."

The DP further warned the MPs against engaging in divisive politics, chastising them for holding secret meetings to plot his impeachment.

"Hii Kenya ni yetu na hiyo siasa inaletwa itaharibu nchi yetu. Wananchi wapewe nafasi, walichaguana na miaka tano ikiisha watarudi kwa debe. Ni wakati ya kufanya kazi si wakati ya kupanga siasa kwa mahotelini. Ukitaka kupiga Rigathi Gachagua, usiende kwa hoteli, kuja hapa Marigiti," said the DP.

"Sisi tuliunga mkono na Rais William Ruto kwa hiari yetu na tulimpenda. Hawa watu wanapanga hii maneno tafadhali msitujaribu. Msituambie ya kwamba sisi ni bure... tuheshimiwe. Watu wanataka waheshimiwe na viongozi wao waheshimiwe."

Gachagua similarly took a swipe at Sakaja, urging market traders to carefully consider their choice of Nairobi Governor in the 2027 elections.

When the Marikiti traders went on strike, Gachagua appealed to Sakaja to withdraw the eviction notice, citing that the Kangundo market was filled to capacity and that evicting the traders from Marikiti would render them jobless.

Taking to his social media account, Gachagua reminded Sakaja of the promise given by the Kenya Kwanza team to uplift Kenyans' lives.

In a brief but pointed response, Governor Sakaja however told Gachagua to reach out to him directly rather than through social media—a comment that seemingly irked the DP.

"Hapa Nairobi tutajipanga, hakuna siku ingine tutapeana kura bila mpango," he said.

Discussions about Gachagua's potential impeachment have gained significant traction in recent months, with critics suggesting a possible rift between the DP and President William Ruto as the driving factor behind the planned ouster motion.

Gachagua has of late frequently visited the Mt. Kenya region in an effort to solidify his position as the most influential politician from the area.

Despite his efforts, a faction of Mt. Kenya MPs have withdrawn their support for him as the region’s political spokesperson, opting instead to endorse Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof. Kithure Kindiki.