Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has condemned the National Assembly, labeling it unconstitutional and unfit to initiate impeachment proceedings against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
During an appearance on Citizen TV’s The Explainer Show on Tuesday, Kalonzo asserted that Parliament had effectively been “impeached by the people” following the anti-government protests led by Gen Z demonstrators in June 2024, which saw them storming the House.
Kalonzo criticized the rushed impeachment process against Gachagua, arguing that it lacked adequate public participation, especially considering the serious implications of removing a deputy president. He characterized the charges against Gachagua as “frivolous” and emphasized that the Deputy President had not been afforded a fair opportunity to defend himself before the proceedings.
“People will recall what happened on June 25 when Parliament was effectively impeached by the people. The same Parliament is now handling this serious matter,” Kalonzo remarked. He noted that the impeachment process proceeded without allowing Gachagua to respond, claiming that what was presented as public participation had devolved into a referendum on President Ruto’s leadership.
The Wiper leader also referenced former Chief Justice David Maraga’s advisory on the two-thirds gender rule, asserting that Parliament’s failure to comply with this guideline constituted it unlawfully. He argued that this undermined the legitimacy of the House and its capacity to oversee such significant issues.
“Maraga gave clear advice regarding the two-thirds gender rule, yet Parliament has failed to comply. This House has been captured by the Executive and is now being used to further its agenda. That’s why, despite public calls to impeach both Ruto and Gachagua, only the Deputy President was targeted,” Kalonzo added.
Expressing his discontent with what he viewed as selective impeachment, Kalonzo warned that removing one of the leaders from their joint ticket would be unjust. “I support the sentiment behind the phrase ‘Kufa dereva, kufa makanga’—if the Deputy President goes, the President should leave too. The presidency is one ticket, and in my view, both of them should go home,” he concluded.
