Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has come out swinging, deftly fending off an impeachment bid that stems from his remarks against National Intelligence Service (NIS) boss, Noordin Haji.
In a fiery defence, Gachagua said he was simply following the precedent set by his boss, President William Ruto.
Gachagua played a video clip from the 2022 election campaign in which then-deputy Ruto went after Police Inspector General Hillary Mutyambai and former DCI boss George Kinoti.
The embattled DP emphasized that no one sought to impeach Ruto for what he now finds himself in hot water over.
“That is President William Ruto as DP criticizing IG Hillary Mutyambai and DCI George Kinoti. Public officers must be called to order when they fall short of expectations, and I learnt that from my boss, President Ruto. I never saw anyone bring William Ruto here for impeachment for criticizing the DCI and IG. This is a very unfair allegation,” he added.
Ruto’s voice from the 2022 clip echoed through Parliament, where he was heard castigating the then DCI boss George Kinoti.
“Huyo mtu anaitwa Kinoti awache ujinga. Uyo Kinoti hakuna kitu anafanya hii Kenya. Stop writing us long letters. Mr. Kinoti leave matters of elections to IEBC. Wacha sinema,” Ruto is heard saying in the video played during Gachagua’s defence period.
DP Gachagua: Public officers must be called to order when they fall short of expectations and I learnt that from my boss President Ruto. I never saw anyone bring William Ruto here for impeachment for criticizing the DCI and IG. This is a very unfair allegation. #K24Siasa… pic.twitter.com/tSuBPFQtCa
— K24 TV (@K24Tv) October 8, 2024
Gachagua takes on Haji
In June 2024, at the height of Gen Z-led anti-government protests, Gachagua had called for Haji’s resignation, accusing him of dropping the ball and failing the government.
Gachagua did not hold back on his criticism of Haji’s leadership, alleging that the NIS’s failure to provide accurate intelligence led to unnecessary chaos.
“I sympathise with President Ruto because this information was not available to him. NIS is mandated to provide such information, and that is where the problem is; we have a dysfunctional NIS that has exposed the President, the government, and the people of Kenya,” Gachagua had said then.
Adding;
“Noordin Haji must take responsibility for the deaths that have occurred, the mayhem witnessed, and for failing Ruto, the government, and Kenya by not doing his job and advising correctly. He must not just take responsibility but resign from that office and allow the president to pick a competent DG.”