Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has weighed on the ongoing debate of Rigathi Gachagua’s impeachment.
Speaking during a TV interview, Duale blamed Gachagua for his woes stating that during his tenure as the second in command, he created more political enemies rather than allies.
He went on to say that Gachagua’s public disputes with key political figures, including digital strategist Dennis Itumbi and President William Ruto’s personal assistant, Farouk Kibet contributed to his downfall.
“It is good to invest in friends and the impeached deputy president invested more in fighting people from his backyard and everywhere including fighting small people including small people like Dennis Itumbi and Farouk Kibet, he invested more in creating enemies than friends. When you are big you don’t come to ground zero, you stay up” Duale stated.
Duale added that the impeachment has made him the first sitting Deputy President in Kenya’s history to be removed from office.
“It has never happened in the history of the Kenyan legislature for 282 members to vote in favour of a motion and go to the Senate the lowest charge that the house impeached on they were 48-49 senators, that’s why I do not play around with the members of parliament when I am called to the House, I go there and answer questions unless there is a Cabinet meeting” he added.
He further stated that Gachagua is a good man but he needed to be loyal not only to his friends but also to the constitution.
“Riggy G is a good man but I think he needed to be very loyal. Loyalty pays, I am a living example of loyalty. It’s good to be loyal to your friend, it is good to be loyal to the Constitution and it is good to be loyal to the people of Kenya,” he stated.
Duale on impeachment motion
Sighting the example of former governors Sonko and Waititu’s political fate, Duale advised any elected leader facing an impeachment process to make a wise decision before the matter is concluded at the Senate.
“The advice that I can give to any leader whether a governor or deputy president who is facing an impeachment process is if you want to have more years in politics, a longer political lifeline, it is best to make a decision before your matter is concluded at the Senate,”
“If you don’t do that then you will face the fate of former governors Mike Sonko and Waititu, once the senate says you seize to then there is a ruling on the Supreme Court that you are banned for ten years and ten years is a long period in politics,” he added.
