Gachagua revealed that his fallout with President William Ruto had allowed him to take a back seat and chart his next political move
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Sunday, November 24 announced that he would make a significant political announcement in January 2025 after holding consultations with like-minded residents of the Mt. Kenya region.
Speaking during a church service at AIPCA Kangari in Murang’a County, Gachagua revealed that his fallout with President William Ruto had allowed him to take a back seat and chart his next political move ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The former second in command attributed this to realising Ruto’s true colours when he purportedly allowed Members of Parliament and the Senate to push forward with his impeachment which was completed at breakneck speed in October.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua accompanied President William Ruto on a three-day tour of Kisii and Nyamira Counties. /RIGATHI GACHAGUA
“We as the Mt. Kenya people hate two things; lies and betrayal. This coming January after the talks we will announce the next direction. Never again shall we find ourselves in the hole we are in,” said Gachagua.
“President Ruto, my friend, did a good thing to bring this fight against me and the people of the mountain because now we know him. Now we understand you (Ruto) and we will address you as we know you and who you are. Now we will have talks with respect.”
He affirmed that the political movement that will come out of Mt Kenya region in the new year “will make the 2002 movement look like a joke.”
Gachagua added that he has been holding talks with church leaders, businesspeople, professionals, and like-minded leaders “who love our people”, adding “It is better you (Ruto) have launched this attack early because if it was in the second term you would have bothered us.”
He revealed these while heaping praise on the Members of Parliament from the Mount Kenya region who stood with him during the impeachment process. According to Gachagua, the lawmakers acted in the best interests of the greater Mt Kenya region by refusing to be intimidated into the political fights.
Gachagua’s incoming announcement could set a major tone as far as the elections are concerned as this could see him possibly gang up against his former boss Ruto.
Since his impeachment he has held an antagonistic profile against the government, maintaining that his impeachment was due to his unpopular stance against the decisions the government was taking.
His January announcement could be diarized by Kenyans and political analysts and would come especially at a time when he is unlikely to be a presidential candidate following his impeachment.Â
However, the Constitution is silent on the fate of an impeached leader, as to whether they can be barred from running from office.
In May 2021, the Court of Appeal made a ruling that stemmed from the impeachment of Governor Ferdinand Waititu of Kiambu County in January 2020, directing that the law did not automatically bar any citizens from running for office under such circumstances.
The Appellate Court instead ruled that impeached individuals could only be barred from vying if there would be moral and legal grounds stemming from their impeachment.
