Rigathi Gachagua, the recently impeached Deputy President of Kenya, has expressed that he holds no ill will towards those involved in his removal from office.
Speaking to journalists on Sunday after being discharged from the hospital, Gachagua reiterated his stance on forgiveness but hinted at strained relations with President William Ruto.
“I bear no grudges against anyone; however, I had not seen this in President Ruto. The man I am seeing today is not the one I thought I knew. There was concerted effort to prevent me from attending Mashujaa Day celebrations in Kwale County,” he remarked.
Gachagua’s impeachment was finalised after the Kenyan Senate voted to uphold a motion initially introduced by Kibwezi West MP, Mwengi Mutuse. The motion passed through the National Assembly with 281 votes in favour, 44 against, and one abstention.
Gachagua faced five major charges, including misuse of office, interference with judicial independence, and breaches of the National Cohesion and Integrity Act.
After two days of debate, 53 senators voted in support of the motion, formally removing him from his position. This makes Gachagua the first deputy president in Kenyan history to be impeached.
The legal proceedings took a dramatic turn on Thursday when Gachagua’s legal team walked out, following the Senate’s refusal to extend the hearings to Saturday. His lead lawyer, Paul Mwite, explained that Gachagua was unable to attend the final stages of the hearing due to hospitalisation for severe chest pains at Karen Hospital.
Although Gachagua had attended earlier sessions, his sudden illness forced him to miss the concluding deliberations.