Revealed: Percentage of Kenyans in support of Gachagua’s impeachment

By Peter Ochieng

Over 40 percent of Kenyans have expressed their support for the removal of Deputy President (DP) Rigathi Gachagua from office, by impeachment.

According to results of a poll conducted by Trends and Insights for Africa (TIFA), 41 percent of Kenyans support the DP’s impeachment, against 38 percent who are against it.

“Overall, Kenyans are quite divided over the current effort to remove Gachagua from office by impeachment, with only a slight plurality in support of it (41% vs. 38%),” the firm says.

The primary reason for supporting the Deputy President's impeachment, the poll revealed, is the perception that he exhibits a biased attitude and rhetoric favouring his own community from the Mt. Kenya region.

However, the majority of residents in Mt. Kenya, Gachagua’s political turf are against the impeachment proceedings. “A clear contrast is seen between residents of the Mt. Kenya region and those of all other regions, with well over twice as many of the former opposed to it (69% vs. 28%).”

Opponents of his impeachment believe that he is being unfairly targeted. They praised his leadership, adding that he and President William Ruto should finish their 5-year term together, or leave office together instead of impeaching Gachagua alone.

On Sunday, the Deputy President asked President Ruto, Kenyans and Members of Parliament (MPs) to forgive him for his wrongdoings, if any.

"I want to say to my brother President William Ruto if, in our zeal to work, I have wronged you, please find it in your heart to forgive me. If my spouse, in her duties with the boy child, has wronged you in any way, please find it in your heart to forgive her."

“I ask Parliament to forgive any remarks or actions of mine that may have caused offence,” he added.

The DP is expected to personally appear on the floor of the National Assembly on Tuesday, to respond to 11 charges fronted in the motion to impeach him.