Naivasha MP Kihara: Ruto knew he would not complete first term with Gachagua

Naivasha MP Jayne Kihara has asserted that President William Ruto anticipated his deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, might not serve the full five-year term when he selected him as his running mate in the 2022 election. Kihara stated that Ruto was aware of the parliamentary obstacles that could arise should Gachagua need to be removed from office.

She explained that impeaching a sitting deputy president would necessitate a two-thirds majority in Parliament, which she believed to be an arduous task. This, according to Kihara, likely influenced Ruto's later decision to seek political support from former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. Gachagua was eventually removed from his position by the Senate in October 2024 after being impeached for allegedly violating the Constitution, abusing his office, and engaging in misconduct.

Despite these charges, Gachagua has appealed his removal to the Court of Appeal. Kihara, a vocal critic of the Kenya Kwanza administration, also expressed skepticism towards Ruto's statements, urging Kenyans to question the veracity of the President's public pronouncements. She suggested that Ruto often speaks without consideration for his words.

Her comments come at a time of increasing political criticism of the administration regarding policy implementation and political affairs as various political parties prepare for the 2027 General Election. Kihara also accused Parliament of insufficiently scrutinizing the Executive and of acting in accordance with the President's wishes.

She alleged that parliamentary group meetings held at the State House are driven by financial incentives. While Kihara's claims have not been substantiated by evidence, they add to the growing criticism of the relationship between Parliament and the Executive as political alignments are being set ahead of the 2027 polls.