ODM Declares Its Position On DP Rigathi Gachagua Impeachment

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party Deputy Leader Simba Arati has dismissed reports that the opposition political outfit played a key role in the ongoing impeachment motion against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

The Kisii governor while addressing the ODM party delegation in Kisii clarified that Members of Parliament (MP) had the final say on the second in command's fate, adding it had nothing against him.

According to Arati, the opposition party would accept the outcome of the special motion which MPs are expected to vote on, noting that it had only helped in bringing stability to President William Ruto's government.

“As ODM party members, we do not say that Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua should be dismissed but since the matter is before parliamentarians,” Arati clarified. 

Kisii Governor Simba Arati during an address on January 23, 2024. /SIMBA ARATI

“We do not have anything to do with it, we just want the government to do its role and we as ODM remain an intact party. We have helped President William Ruto to stabilise his administration and that is all."

Arati further dismissed allegations that the ODM party had entered into a coalition deal with President Ruto's United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party.

"Let nobody come here and claim that we are in Kenya Kwanza, we are not in Kenya Kwanza, we are in ODM," Arati clarified.

Arati's sentiments come even as the plot to impeach the deputy president continues to thicken with the process currently undergoing public participation. Lawmakers elected on ODM party tickets were among the 291 who appended their signatures in support of Gachagua's ouster proceedings.

The National Assembly began undertaking the public participation exercise at county levels across the country. On Friday, the exercise commenced in most centres across the country but was marred by challenges leading to confrontations among delegates, matters that forced the exercise to be extended by a day.

Residents in the Mt. Kenya region counties of Nyeri, Murang’a, Nakuru and Kiambu took to the streets to protest against the government’s decision to conduct the exercise in paperwork. The locals instead, demanded that public participation be done using digital means.

In addition, Nyeri and Kiambu residents protested against the attempt to kick out the DP claiming that he was elected alongside President William Ruto and hence dismissing one would require the other to step aside as well.

In Nairobi, chaos at the Bomas of Kenya led to lawyer-turned-activist, Morara Kebaso, being attacked by delegates at the Bomas of Kenya during the public participation exercise to the point of suffering injuries.

Gachagua is scheduled to appear before a special plenary session of the National Assembly on Tuesday, October 8, when he will put up his defence against the charges he is facing.