Kibwezi West Member of Parliament Mwengi Mutuse has revealed interesting intrigues of the sensational impeachment motion against Rigathi Gachagua – the first to be successfully moved by a lawmaker in Kenya’s history.
Mutuse, who etched his name in the history books after his motion, recently disclosed that President William Ruto was apprehensive about impeaching Gachagua.
At the height of political tensions in September and October 2024, Kenyans were curious why President Ruto was conspicuously quiet amid an onslaught on Gachagua. Some quarters went to the lengths of accusing the Head of State of using his powers and allies in the house to oust Gachagua.
According to Mutuse, however, he did not engage with the President about the motion but learnt from Ruto’s camp that the President was unsure whether impeachment was the best way to tame former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse.
“We did not speak about the issue of moving the motion,” Mutuse said. “In fact, the indication we got from the initial days was the president was a bit careful. He was not sure whether it was the right move.”
Mutuse also detailed the origins of the impeachment motion saying it stemmed from concerned Kenyans who were adamant that the country was heading in the wrong direction because of the differences between President William Ruto and his number two.
This prompted Mutuse, who also runs a law firm in Kilimani, to approach Kimani Ichung’wah and Junet Mohammed – the majority and minority leaders respectively, who endorsed the motion.
He added, “They (Junet and Ichung’wah) asked me to give them something to look at. They looked at it and got interested. They helped me mobilise Members of parliament to support the motion.”
Mutuse then assembled several of his lawyer friends and embarked on extensive research to build a case against Gachagua, a process which he claims took at least one month.
The MP further revealed attempts from Gachagua’s camp to coerce him into retracting the motion, but he had already made up his mind. Mutuse, however, clarified that the former DP never contacted him directly.
After a successful impeachment motion, Mutuse was predictably regarded as a hero on one camp and a traitor on the other, with his security being heightened after Gachagua’s ouster.
Despite his silence, Ruto in October spoke for the first time on Gachagua’s impeachment, calling on the nation to stay united as he hinted his former DP practised politics along tribal lines.
While speaking at the Tobong’u Lore Turkana Festival, he reiterated that he would not condone tribal, divisive and dismissive politics in the country.
“We do not want tribal, divisive and dismissive politics. We want to come together as the people of Kenya.”
President William Ruto with his former Deputy Rigathi Gachagua at State House Nairobi.
William Ruto