Gachagua accuses state of using incitement cases to justify impeachment

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has claimed there is a plot to implicate Members of Parliament allied to him in incitement cases in a bid to justify his potential impeachment.

His remarks come after the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) recommended that the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) charge five politicians allied to Gachagua for their alleged involvement in violent anti-government protests on June 25, 2024.

In a statement on Thursday, Gachagua expressed concern that his staff and supporters have been facing harassment over the past two months.

He revealed that he had learned of a plan to press charges against three of his staff members, along with two MPs, James Gakuya of Embakasi North and Benjamin Gathiru Mejja Donk of Embakasi Central.

“This evil scheme is to associate them with violent demonstrations that took place in late June, in a futile attempt to soil my name and hopefully create grounds for the mooted impeachment proceedings against me,” he said.

The DP further accused the government of using the criminal justice system (DCI) for political purposes, terming it as an outdated tactic.

“The use of the criminal justice system to manage politics is an outdated political strategy that was used in the past. President William Ruto and I, on assuming office, gave an undertaking to the people of Kenya that never again shall the criminal justice system be called upon to help in the management of politics. I am embarrassed that we are back to where we were,” he said.

He urged the state to act professionally, noting that Kenyans are well-informed about the reasons behind the protests and the country's real issues.

“Kenyans are intelligent people. They know what factors made Kenyans take to the streets. Kenyans also know what the real problems in Kenya are. They surely know Rigathi is not among them. Let our agencies remain professional, follow the rule of law, and keep off politics,” he said.

The DCI had opened an investigation following intelligence reports suggesting certain politicians had a role in organising, mobilising, and funding the unrest.

Those implicated in the report include Embakasi Central MP Benjamin Gathiru Mwangi, Embakasi North MP James Mwangi Gakuya, former Embakasi West MP George Theuri, former Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu, and Pius Munene.

In a letter dated September 24, 2024, DCI’s Director of Investigations Abdalla Komesha stated that the accused politicians were implicated after multiple meetings held at a hotel in Nairobi.

The letter also revealed that these individuals were questioned by the DCI in July and August, leading to the recommendation that charges be filed against some of them.

The charges include soliciting or inciting others to commit offences, as outlined under Section 391 of the Penal Code. One of the MPs is also facing additional charges related to money laundering.