REVEALED: Sakaja and 2 Other Witnesses Set to Testify Against Rigathi Gachagua
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua faces an uphill task to block his ouster as three key powerful witnesses are set to testify against him before the National Assembly on Tuesday, October 8.
The DP faces 11 charges related to alleged economic crimes, abuse of office, and gross violations of the Constitution, with Members of Parliament (MPs) set to vote on Tuesday on whether the motion should go to full trial in the Senate.
According to NTV, the people set to testify against Gachagua include former KEMSA Chief Executive Officer Andrew Mulwa who accused Gachagua and his last-born son Keith Rigathi of interference in a mosquito net tender worth Ksh3.7 billion.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja is also set to renew his rivalry with Gachagua with an affidavit accusing the DP of opposing the relocation of traders from Nairobi’s Wakulima Market to Kangundo Road Market.
Nairobi City Governor Arthur Sakaja
Photo
Kenyans.co.ke
According to Sakaja’s affidavit, this is a decision by the county government and not the office of the DP, making Gachagua guilty of violating the principle of separation of powers.
Secretary to the Cabinet Mercy Wanjau is also set to testify against the DP, accusing him of opposing the evacuation of Nairobi residents living within 30 metres of the Nairobi river despite the Cabinet, in which Gachagua sits, approving the evacuation.
Gachagua’s team of powerful lawyers, led by Paul Muite, have been going through the charges facing the DP, and advising him accordingly on how best to defend himself.
Dorcas Rigathi and her son Keith Rigathi, meanwhile, want one company – Morani Manufacturers – to be excluded from the list of 16 companies Gachagua allegedly used to amass his wealth of Ksh5.2 billion in the past two years.
Gachagua’s defence: Since talking publicly about his ouster last Monday, Gachagua has yet to make another public appearance. It is believed that the DP has gone under the radar as he continues to strategise with his legal team on how best to win arguably his toughest battle yet since he became President William Ruto’s number two.
The DP has consistently maintained his innocence from corruption claims and has been adamant the impeachment motion, brought to the House by Mwengi Mutuse, a legislator affiliated to President William Ruto’s governing coalition, is politically motivated.
While Ruto is yet to publicly comment on the matter, it is largely believed the President is behind Gachagua’s woes. Gachagua, in recent interviews, has openly called out his boss, telling him to ‘get his house in order’.
If Gachagua is impeached, it would severely dent his political ambitions, as it would effectively end his possibility of succeeding Ruto once the UDA party leader’s term comes to an end.
On the other hand, if he survives the impeachment motion, Gachagua will have established himself as a political giant, particularly in the Mount Kenya region. He will also have a huge bargaining chip for future political alliances.
Despite losing an appeal to halt public participation forums on Thursday, Gachagua was handed a slight boost when some leaders in the Mount Kenya region made a U-turn on his ouster, instead calling for the DP to have a dialogue with the President to resolve their issues.
DP Rigathi Gachagua during the launch of the second Information Systems at KICC on September 2, 2024.
DPPS
