Rigathi Gachagua, Kenya’s impeached deputy president, announced on Sunday that President William Ruto would be held accountable if anything were to happen to him. He also stated that his security protection team had been removed.
Gachagua informed reporters that his safety was in jeopardy. He has rejected the accusations made against him as being politically driven.
He told reporters of Ruto, whose campaign he backed in the 2022 elections, “It’s the most unfortunate thing that has ever happened in this country that you can be so vicious to a man who helped you to be President.”
Resila Onyango, a police spokesperson, declined to comment right away and said she would look into Gachagua’s claim regarding security protection. A representative for Ruto stated they will comment later.
Regularly, senior protection is reduced for senior politicians after they leave office in Kenya.
Gachagua told journalists his case was different as he had launched a legal challenge to his impeachment and did not see his dismissal as final.
Gachagua was impeached on Thursday on five out of 11 charges including gross violation of the constitution and stirring ethnic hatred, in a motion that was backed by opposition lawmakers and Ruto allies. He denied all the accusations.
On Friday, parliament approved the appointment of Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki to replace Gachagua. But a court put Kindiki’s swearing-in on hold pending the legal challenges from Gachagua and others.
Ruto, who has fallen out with Gachagua in recent months, has not commented on the impeachment proceedings.
On Sunday, while addressing a national holiday celebration, Ruto called for national cohesion and an end to “tribalism and exclusion”.
(Reuters)
