Kenyan lawmakers move to impeach deputy president

​​​​​​​By Andrew Wasike

NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) - Kenyan lawmakers launched impeachment proceedings Tuesday against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in a major escalation in political tensions within President William Ruto’s administration.

Parliament Speaker Moses Wetang’ula approved the impeachment motion and said the 11 grounds for removal from office meet the constitutional threshold.

The motion, tabled by Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse, accuses Gachagua of gross misconduct, constitutional violations and undermining government efforts.

The push to impeach Gachagua comes amid growing friction between him and Ruto.

Tensions have been high since Ruto made a U-turn on the controversial Ford Foundation issue, initially supporting Gachagua’s claims of the organization's involvement in funding anti-government protests before backtracking and publicly distancing himself from the deputy president’s statements.

“The president said it was the Ford Foundation that sponsored the protests, the other day he went to meet the Ford Foundation. What are we saying as a country?” Gachagua told reporters on Sunday. “They are blaming Uhuru Kenyatta, blaming Rigathi Gachagua, blaming our neighbors, so which is which?”

Gachagua, a powerful figure within the ruling Kenya Kwanza coalition, has denied the allegations and described the impeachment motion as politically motivated.

He has accused members of the government of plotting his downfall to gain influence ahead of elections in 2027.

Parliament is expected to debate the motion, which requires the backing of at least two-thirds of the National Assembly, or 233 of the 349 members, before moving to the Senate​ where a trial would take place.