Rigathi Gachagua – Kenya’s vice president ‘Riggy G’ is facing an impeachment vote

Members of Parliament in Kenya are expected to vote on whether to remove Vice President Rigathi Gachagua from office in a political issue that has engulfed the country following his disagreement with President William Ruto.

Members of parliament accused Gachagua of corruption, divisive politics and undermining the government, among a host of other charges.

The 59-year-old politician, popularly known as “Riggy G”, has described the allegations against him as “outrageous” and “just propaganda”, insisting they are part of a plot to oust him from office.

He is expected to appear before the parliament to answer before the vote, after which the trial will move to the Senate.

Political tensions have been simmering in the East African country since June when deadly protests broke out over an unwanted tax hike, revealing a deep rift between Ruto and Gachagua.

Ruto sacked most of his cabinet and brought in members of the main opposition following anti-tax protests, in which more than 50 people were killed.

Several MPs associated with Gachagua were summoned by the police last month, accused of sponsoring the protests – although no charges were brought.

Before the vote, security was tightened in the capital, Nairobi, as police patrolled and the main roads leading to parliament were blocked by the public.

About 20 lawyers have been hired to defend Gachagua in the proposed trial, local media reported.

291 Members of Parliament, more than 117 required by the constitution, signed a motion to start the impeachment process last week.

Gachagua has failed in several court attempts to stop the proceedings.

In his televised speech on Monday, Gachagua accused Mwengi Mutuse, the Member of Parliament who drafted the motion, of lying, calling it “shameful and sad”.

The motion outlines 11 grounds for impeachment, including allegations that Gachagua amassed assets worth Kenyan R5.2bn ($40m, £31m) over two years from undisclosed wealth.

“I am innocent of all these crimes,” said Gachagua.

“I have no intention of resigning from this job. I will fight until the end.”

The Vice President said some of the properties listed in the proposal belonged to his late brother.

He also defended the debate on the adjustment of his official residence in the capital.

If major decisions are to be taken by Members of Parliament, the constitution says that the public must be consulted first.

According to a parliamentary report, more than 200,000 responses were received as part of that process – where 65% supported the impeachment of Gachagua, while about 34% opposed it.

On Sunday, Gachagua appealed to Ruto and members of Parliament to forgive him for whatever wrong he did while in power. He then clarified that his apology was not an admission of guilt.

Ruto has not publicly commented on the proposed impeachment, but has been on record in the early days of his administration saying he would never publicly embarrass his deputy.

For this proposal to be passed, it needs the support of at least two-thirds of the members of the National Assembly, the lower house of parliament.

It is expected that the ship will pass as the opposition groups have joined the president’s party.

Gachagua, a wealthy businessman from the vote-rich Mount Kenya region, overcame past corruption scandals to become Ruto’s running mate in the hotly contested August 2022 election.

He is from the Kikuyu community, the largest ethnic group in the country, while President Ruto is a Kalenjin, the largest ethnic group in the Rift Valley.

The two communities were at loggerheads after the 2007 elections – ethnic violence that left 1,200 people dead across the country.

If the Senate also supports this proposal, Gachagua will be the first vice president to be dismissed under the constitution adopted in 2010.

In 1989, former Vice President Josephat Karanja resigned when faced with a similar proposal.