Azimio's internal disputes intensify over Gachagua's impeachment

Azimio Coalition is once again facing internal strains amid the impeachment of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka and former Defence Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa criticised Gachagua's ouster, calling it an injustice, and further blamed Azimio MPs for taking part in the exercise.

The two pointed fingers at the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) for failing to uphold Azimio's resolutions during the voting process.

The duo addressed the media at Karen Hospital on Friday morning, where Gachagua was admitted on October 17, 2024, after suffering chest pains.

Kalonzo expressed that he was not surprised by the impeachment outcome, having predicted it just days prior in an interview on Citizen TV.

"I predicted that things were going to move very fast. I once was Deputy Speaker of Parliament, and one of the worst mistakes you can make as a legislator is to anticipate debate. The whole National Assembly anticipated the outcome of the deliberations of the Senate," Musyoka told the media.

The Wiper Party leader further condemned the Senate for not allowing Gachagua the chance to defend himself, especially since he was reported ill at the time of the trial.

Eugene Wamalwa echoed Kalonzo's sentiments, faulting the Senate for violating the principles of natural justice.

He claimed that both the National Assembly and the Senate were acting under the influence of the Executive.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua ahead of the beginning of his Senate impeachment trial on October 16, 2024. (Photo: Senate)

Wamalwa took particular aim at National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula and Deputy Speaker Gladys Boss Shollei for their perceived bias in the proceedings.

"Open bias was shown by the Speaker Wetangula, Deputy Speaker Shollei, Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah, and Chief Whip Sylvanus Osoro; there could not be a fair trial," he said.

Despite the criticism, Wamalwa commended Azimio Senators who opposed Gachagua's ousting, asserting that their actions were in line with constitutional principles.

"We want to say thank you to our Senators, our leader in the Senate. Senator Wambua Kituyi captured everything Azimio stands for; our leader in the National Assembly, Robert Mbui, spoke for all of us as Azimio, but their counterparts in ODM spoke a different language," he claimed.

Wamalwa emphasised that other parties within Azimio can no longer pretend to be in agreement with ODM.

"Even as we go forward, we can no longer pretend that we are like-minded," he noted.

In clarifying Azimio's position, Wamalwa stated that the coalition had significant disagreements with the Raila-led ODM regarding various issues, including Gachagua's impeachment, the formation of a broad-based government, and several government dealings.