Former United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Secretary General Cleophas Malala on Thursday, October 18 did not mince his words against President William Ruto after the ย impeachment of his former deputy Rigathi Gachagua, while admitted in the hospital.[โฆ]CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLEโถ
Speaking to the press outside the hospital, Malala accused Ruto of lacking humanity by failing to convince the Senate to adjourn impeachment hearings to allow himself to give his defence.
According to the former Kakamega Senator, Ruto betrayed his former junior in his hour of need and his allies as a whole, reminding him that they moved mountains for him to ascend to State House following the 2022 general elections.
“Have you become this heartless Mr. President to the sense that your deputy president is sick but you are still fighting him down? We helped you, we fought for you to become president and we never knew that you would become this man who does not care about his friends. You had the opportunity to even talk to the Senate but you decided to fight a sick person.
“The person who was stripped off his clothes before his family to make you the president is now here at Karen Hospital sick but you are still fighting him down. What kind of human being are you, Mr. President? Malalah posed.
Malalahowever, said that he had confidence in the judiciary in overturning the impeachment of Gachagua.
“We have a lot of confidence in our judiciary. We will have our day in court and we believe that we are going to emerge victorious. I want to assure Kenyans that Rigathi Gachagua will be deputy president up to 2027. Watch this space,” he vowed.
The news of the Senateย moving to impeach Gachagua in his absenceย moved some lawmakers in tears, including former Bahati Member of Parliament Kimani Ngunjiri and Githunguri legislator Gathoni Wamuchomba, who accused Ruto and the Senators of being merciless and inconsiderate.
“They can take all his property but his health should be paramount. God protect Gachagua and maintain his health. His heart belongs to you, help us. Right now, there is not much I can say. Right now we leave everything to God. We will see him tomorrow,” Ngunjuri said outside the Karen Hospital shortly after visiting the deputy president.
“Gachagua will eventually leave the hospital. We are praying for him. If you are so interested in the deputy president’s seat you can keep it. He has not occupied that position for long. But leave him alone and the little he has at his age,” Wamuchomba stated tearfully.
Meanwhile, Gachagua’s legal team has moved to court to challenge the impeachment by the Senate, arguing that the allegations used to impeach him were unsubstantiated and he was not granted a chance to defend himself.
Through lawyer Paul Muite, Gachagua further sought court orders to stop President Ruto from nominating his successor, pending the determination of his case.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has since been nominated to replace him.
Gachagua has challenged the entire process that led to his removal arguing that the charges levelled against him are baseless and the evidence tabled before Parliament was insufficient. “Unfounded and false allegations have been made against me in the impeachment motion before both houses. It would be in the interest of justice that such false information be corrected in line with the provisions of article 35 of the constitution,” he said.
Gachagua argued that the Senate was required by law to act as an impartial arbitrator in considering whether the charges before it have been substantiated or not, further maintaining that the evidence relied on forming the basis for his impeachment was insufficient.
He also sought an order blockingthe National Assembly from vetting and approving the nomination of the person submitted by the presidentto fill the vacancy in the office of the Deputy President. President Ruto has since presented the name of Kindiki to the National Assembly for approval as the next DP.
“It would be prejudicial to my client to allow the respondents to gazette his removal by way of impeachment in a manner that stands contrary to basic constitutional provisions before this petition is heard and determined,” said MuiteโฆCLICK HERE TO READ MORE ARTICLES>>>
