Nairobi, Kenya | By Michael Wandati | After spending more than 60 hours at Karen Hospital due to severe chest pains, impeached Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has finally spoken out.
Upon his discharge, an emotional Gachagua held President William Ruto responsible for the political struggles that led to his impeachment by the Senate.
Gachagua expressed deep regret for backing Ruto’s political journey, only to feel “viciously” discarded just two years after assuming office.
“I didn’t know President Ruto could be that vicious. I am so shocked by how vicious a man I helped to be president, that I believed in, I was persecuted for supporting him, could be so vicious against me when I am literally fighting for my life in hospital,” he said.
Rigathi Gachagua, visibly bitter, recounted the political betrayal he has faced from President William Ruto, a leader he once believed would uphold their close relationship in power.
He went on to reveal that he had been informed of an alleged scheme to block him from attending the Mashujaa Day celebrations in Kwale. Gachagua claimed that orders were given to all helicopter owners to deny him access to air travel, effectively preventing him from making an appearance at the national event.
“I bear no grudge against anybody. The man I am seeing is not the one I thought I knew. I know there was a concerted effort that I should not go to Kwale for the celebration and Wilson Airport was told that I should not go through their airport,” Gachagua added.
Gachagua further revealed that security personnel assigned to his Karen and Nyeri residences had been withdrawn, raising concerns about the motives behind this ongoing crackdown. He also questioned the targeting of his office staff, suggesting that the measures were part of a broader effort to isolate and undermine him.
“I have been here alone without a single officer looking after me. All officers close to me were disarmed and given a warning that they should not be near me. As we speak the Deputy President has no single security officer around him. He is alone,” said Gachagua.
“Last night all vehicles of offices who work under me were impounded to cripple the office of the DP. I don’t understand this level of viciousness to a man who helped you to become president.”
He therefore stated that President Ruto should be held responsible in the event anything happens to him and his family.
“If anything happens to me or my family President Ruto must be held to account,” he noted.
He claims that his only crime against his boss was “just being truthful because nobody else can tell him.”
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I am the only man in Cabinet who can stand up to President Ruto and tell him hey brother this is not right. This Adani thing is not right for the country, there is too much corruption in the country,” he narrated.
Gachagua maintains that he is still the legitimate Deputy President, citing a court order that temporarily halted the Senate’s decision to remove him from office. He expressed his intention to pursue legal action to secure a second hearing before the Senate, where he plans to defend himself.
Gachagua was impeached by the Senate on October 17, 2024, with Senators voting in favor of five out of the 11 charges brought against him. Meanwhile, President William Ruto has nominated Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki to take over as Deputy President.
