I will appear before MPs tomorrow - DP Gachagua confirms

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Monday evening confirmed that he will appear in Parliament to defend himself against an impeachment motion.

Gachagua, in a televised press conference, vowed to respond to each accusation levelled against him in the impeachment motion tabled by Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse.

“I have been invited to appear before the National Assembly tomorrow at 5 p.m., and I want to confirm to the honourable members, the speaker, and the people of Kenya that I will avail myself of that time and prosecute my defence for two hours,” he stated while speaking during a press conference at his official residence in Karen, Nairobi.

Gachagua expressed his hope that the MPs would grant him the opportunity to respond without interruptions. He also emphasised his intention to speak directly to the people of Kenya, explaining that it was important that they hear his side of the story.

“I think it’s only fair when the members of Parliament decide that they want to remove the Deputy President from office; the people who elected Rigathi Gachagua as Deputy President hear his side of the story,” he added.

"It’s only fair that the 7 million plus people who elected me hear directly my side of the story," he added.

The visibly emotional DP further accused Mutuse of failing to perform his duties competently and embarrassing himself in Parliament by tabling false allegations.

"He was just given documents to sign," claimed Gachagua.

The DP further argued that had the Kibwezi West lawmaker done some research on his impeachment bid, he would not have embarrassed himself.

"The motion alleges that 2 years since assuming office, Rigathi Gachagua has acquired property and wealth whose estimated value is Sh5.2 billion despite his known income by way of employment is Sh24 million. This is extremely outrageous.

"Hon Mutuse goes ahead to give properties that he alleges are owned by Rigathi Gachagua. I trust he was given a document to sign, had he taken some bit of time to do some research, he would not have embarrassed himself at the National Assembly," Gachagua declared.

On his wealth, accused of acquiring through proceeds of crime, he elaborately explained the genesis of the wealth left in his hands by his late brother Nderitu Gachagua, who served as the Nyeri MP.

"Before Nderitu Gachagua died, he left us together with two others to manage his wealth," said Gachagua.

He explained that the four properties that Mutuse alleged that he acquired, yet originally belonged to his brother.

"It is the most embarrassing allegation a member of parliament can make," he added.

Gachagua asked his late brother Nderitu Gachagua following the fact that his Will is now a subject of corruption and treated as the proceeds of corruption.

"How unfair can we be to a man who served this country and left properties to his families?"

"Rest in peace and forgive me for joining politics. Were it not for politics, you would have not endured this shame."