Members of Kenya’s ruling alliance have accused Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua of embezzling public funds and making inflammatory remarks, leading to a significant political upheaval.
Last week, over two-thirds of lawmakers in the National Assembly voted to impeach him, and the Senate will now decide his fate.
Gachagua, 59, who took office alongside President William Ruto in 2022, has dismissed the allegations as outrageous and rejected calls for his resignation.
This turbulence comes at a challenging time for Kenya, which has a history of disputed elections, ethnic tensions, and intermittent political violence.
Recent protests against the government’s plans to impose new taxes resulted in at least 60 deaths, prompting Ruto to roll back the proposed levies.
This has left the Treasury struggling to address a budget shortfall and manage unsustainable public debt, jeopardizing the president’s agenda to stimulate the economy, create jobs, and improve access to healthcare and affordable housing.
The push to impeach Gachagua could heighten tensions between his Kikuyu community, the country’s largest ethnic group, and Ruto’s Kalenjin supporters in the Rift Valley, a region known for past violence.
Relations between Gachagua and Ruto have sharply declined since July, when Ruto formed a government of national unity in response to the anti-tax protests.
This coalition, which includes members from former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s party, aimed to strengthen Ruto’s support but has instead caused rifts within its members.
If impeached, Gachagua would be barred from future elections, though he may still have the opportunity to run again if he chooses to resign.
Source: Bloomberg
