"Forgive me!" Gachagua now pleads to Ruto, MPs 

Embattled Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has publicly sought forgiveness from President William Ruto and Members of Parliament amid the ongoing impeachment motion against him.

His heartfelt appeal comes ahead of his appearance before lawmakers on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, where the House will consider his proposed removal from office.

Speaking on Sunday during a service at the National Prayer Altar at his Karen residence in Nairobi, Gachagua asked the President to forgive him if he had wronged him in any way.

“I want to ask my brother Ruto that if I have wronged him in any way, please find it in your heart to forgive me. If my spouse and her programme have wronged you, forgive her,” he said.

He extended similar apologies to the MPs and the people of Kenya, saying, “To the MPs, if through our utterances and actions, we have upset or wronged you, find it in your heart to forgive me. To the people of Kenya, if I did anything that you found unacceptable, forgive me.”

Gachagua revealed that the National Prayer Altar at his residence in Karen was the same place where he prayed for their leadership during the Supreme Court proceedings in September 2022, when the Opposition challenged the legitimacy of their electoral victory.

“As I sat here, I realised that history is repeating itself, as we were once again in this very spot during the Supreme Court's challenge of our President's victory. We gathered here for prayers, and with God's help, we emerged successfully,” he said.

Impeachment motion

Gachagua's plea comes amid increasing pressure as 291 lawmakers have rallied behind an impeachment motion citing several constitutional violations.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua asks for forgiveness from President Ruto, MPs and Kenyans ahead of his appearance before Parliament this week, where the House is set to consider his impeachment.

Rigathi: In our commitment to work, I want to ask my brother President William… pic.twitter.com/woQdmUYfwM

— The Eastleigh Voice (@Eastleighvoice) October 6, 2024

Kibwezi West Member of Parliament Mwengi Mutuse who tabled the impeachment motion outlined 11 charges, accusing Gachagua of both omission and commission of offenses under Kenyan law, international law, and the country's Constitution.

Among the charges include gross violations of the Constitution, misconduct, and breaches of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act, along with the Leadership and Integrity Act.

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula confirmed that the motion met the required threshold of 117 MPs and was officially received by the Clerk of the National Assembly on September 27.

On Tuesday, October 8, 2024, a morning sitting will be held, followed by an early afternoon session to consider the impeachment motion.

But even as the DP sought forgiveness, President William Ruto on the other hand notably refrained from commenting on the issue.

The silence was particularly evident during a church service on Sunday at the AIC Milimani in Nairobi, where Ruto instead focused on opposing the Religious Organizations Bill 2024, proposed by Tana River Senator Danson Mungatana.

The controversial bill aims to impose regulations on religious organizations, including requiring churches to pay taxes on income, gifts, and profits unless these revenues are exclusively directed towards charitable activities.

While speaking at the service, Ruto emphasised the government’s commitment to protecting freedom of worship, dismissing the proposed regulations as “ill-advised”

He asserted that religious leaders should be responsible for establishing their own guidelines.

Despite the strong stance on religious freedom, Ruto’s lack of commentary on Gachagua's impeachment motion sparked speculation regarding the internal dynamics of his administration.