MPs received Sh500,000 each, senators Sh10 million to impeach me - Gachagua
Gachagua claimed that the president orchestrated the impeachment by bribing lawmakers and promising mover of the motion Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse the chairmanship of the Budget and Appropriations Committee in exchange for tabling the motion.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has accused President William Ruto of paying Members of Parliament Sh500,000 each and Senators Sh10 million to support a motion to impeach him.
In a Monday interview with KTN, Gachagua claimed that the president orchestrated the impeachment by bribing lawmakers and promising mover of the motion Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse the chairmanship of the Budget and Appropriations Committee in exchange for tabling the motion.
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“Everybody knows it’s the worst-kept secret in this country that he’s the one who crafted the impeachment and bribed MPs with Sh500,000 each and senators with Sh10 million,” Gachagua said.
“The mover of the motion, the Kibwezi West MP, has been everywhere complaining that he was short-changed. He was promised the Budget Committee chairmanship, but the president went against this promise.”
Gachagua also questioned the loyalty of Mt Kenya MPs, claiming they blindly followed Ruto’s instructions. He cited instances where MPs passed the Finance Bill despite public outcry and later clapped for Ruto when he backtracked on the policy following protests.
“It is very hypocritical and dishonest for President Ruto to claim that MPs disobeyed him. These MPs do whatever he wants, whether it’s defending the Adani saga or supporting policies that aren’t in the people’s best interest,” he said.
Gachagua was impeached in October last year. The motion, brought forward by Mutuse, accused Gachagua of multiple violations, including undermining the presidency, interfering with devolution, and making inflammatory statements that threatened national unity. Gachagua was also accused of economic crimes, including conflict of interest and illicit wealth acquisition, specifically properties worth Sh5.2 billion.
Mutuse presented evidence of suspicious money transactions and alleged that Gachagua used relatives and proxies to acquire the properties, though he noted the evidence remained unchallenged.
In supporting the impeachment, Kikuyu MP and Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah emphasised that his decision was motivated by the greater good of the country, not popularity. He criticised Gachagua’s public image, calling him a threat to national unity.
“Behind the veneer of humility that you’ve seen here, behind the apology on TV, is a dark face of violence. A face that is a great danger to our nationhood,” Ichung’wah said, adding that Gachagua’s actions reflected sectarian and regional interests.
Ichung’wah also quoted MP Otiende Amollo, who remarked, “If you have to spend two hours on national TV to defend corruption and tell the world how you are not corrupt, you are definitely corrupt.”
Despite Gachagua’s defense, Parliament overwhelmingly voted for his removal, citing a breach of trust and failure to uphold the integrity required of his office.
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