Nyabari Chache Member of Parliament, Zaheer Jhanda, has called for President William Ruto to be distanced from the growing discussions around the impeachment of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. Jhanda believes that the push for impeachment is being driven by leaders from the Mt. Kenya region and other parts of the country for their own reasons.
"President Ruto has no involvement in the impeachment talks concerning Rigathi Gachagua. Leaders from Mt. Kenya and across Kenya have made the decision to move forward with impeachment," Jhanda said during an interview with K24 TV on Monday. He added, "Even during our last parliamentary group meeting, President Ruto didn’t want to entertain any discussions about the Deputy President's impeachment."
Jhanda suggested that Gachagua's best course of action might be to resign before the alleged impeachment plan proceeds further. His comments came in response to UDA Secretary General Cleophas Malala, who had called on President Ruto to intervene and stop the rumored plan to oust Gachagua.
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During a church service in Kiambu County on Sunday, Malala claimed that legislators aligned with the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party were behind the impeachment efforts. He warned that if the motion succeeds, the same individuals could later target President Ruto, jeopardizing his chances for a second term.
"You may think you’re impeaching Rigathi Gachagua, but you’re starting the process of removing yourself," Malala cautioned. He further noted that ODM legislators, including Junet Mohamed and Peter Kaluma, were leading the charge, warning that the same leaders would turn their efforts toward ousting the president.
Malala's concerns were echoed by Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba and other leaders present at the event.
This comes amid growing speculation that the relationship between President Ruto and DP Gachagua has deteriorated, with Gachagua increasingly feeling sidelined. In a recent interview with Citizen TV, Gachagua hinted that internal politics within UDA and the broader Kenya Kwanza alliance have allowed leaders to insult him without consequence. He urged President Ruto to honor his campaign promise and shield him from the ongoing verbal attacks.
