Gachagua, who insisted that he was still the DP, affirmed that the post was created to represent the will of the people in place of the President.
Impeached Deputy President, Rigathi Gachagua on Sunday, October 20 alleged a plot by President William Ruto’s administration to have Kithure Kindiki resign after assuming office as the country’s newest second-in-command.
Addressing the press outside Karen Hospital on Sunday, October 20, Gachagua, who insisted that he was still the DP, affirmed that the post was created to represent the will of the people in place of the President.
However, per Gachagua’s sentiments, the Head of State was seeking a ‘yes’ man who would be unable to question Ruto’s leadership strategies, some of which have pitted him against the very Kenyans who elected him in 2022, alongside Gachagua.
The ousted DP thus revealed that upon assuming office, Kindiki would be made to pen a resignation letter which would be used to justify his exit in the event he raises complaints with the Kenya Kwanza administration.
President William Ruto with Kithure Kindiki during a past event. /X
“My only problem with the President is being truthful because nobody else can tell him. The framers of the 2010 Constitution wanted a Deputy President who is elected as a buffer who can stand for the people.Â
“The challenge we are being treated to is getting rid of an elected deputy president and appointing a control freak, a fellow you appoint who cannot ask a question, who cannot say anything. I’m sure if he succeeds, he’ll be asked to sign an undated resignation letter so that in case he starts asking questions, he can just be told to resign,” he revealed.
Kindiki has yet to respond to his remarks by the time of publishing this story. Gachagua went on to add that he was the only man suited for the DP job given that, according to him, he is bold enough to question President Ruto on any proposals and policies towards the country.
“I am the only man in the Cabinet and in the whole government who can stand up to President William Ruto and tell him ‘hey brother, this is not right. This Adani thing is not good for the country, there’s too much corruption Mr President. This housing thing is being forced down on the people of Kenya and they don’t like it, please don’t force it down on them’,” he added.
Gachagua reiterated his faith in the Judiciary, stating that his lawyers were pursuing a case against his impeachment in Parliament and that he requested that he be granted an opportunity to be heard in the Senate, having done so in the National Assembly and had expressed his readiness to be cross-examined by lawyers at the Senate.
“The 11 counts is nothing but malice and fiction. It was a political game by the President to get rid of me and looking at it, I don’t think the President had any intention of ever working with me.
“I think he just needed me to help him win the election because of my mobilization capacity and the faith the Mt Kenya region has in me,” he continued.
The High Court has since issued conservatory orders barring the swearing-in of deputy president nominee Kithure Kindiki on Tuesday, October 22. Gachagua pleaded with President Ruto to obey court orders which for now are keeping his status as Deputy President.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua at Senate on October 17, 2024. /PARLIAMENT KENYA