Ruto Remains Hush as His Deputy Glares at Impeachment, But Why?

In a surprise move, President William Ruto has remained calm on the motion passed by the National Assembly to impeach his deputy, Rigathi Gachagua.

The motion was tabled by Kibwezi West Member of Parliament (MP) Mwengi Mutese, who accused him of gross misconduct, abuse of office, and mismanagement of public resources, as well as eight other charges. The lawmaker argued that the Deputy President’s (DP) actions had brought the office into disrepute and compromised the integrity of the government.

Despite the severe allegations posed against the DP, President Ruto has maintained deafening stillness, neither supporting nor condemning his deputy’s impeachment motion. Many have interpreted this as a sign of a deepening rift within a ruling party.

In recent weeks, the public has witnessed a noticeable absence of joint public appearances by the President and his Deputy. The head of State was expected to be part of a thanksgiving and fundraising ceremony at the ACK Diocese on October 13, 2024, in Embu. He failed to attend the celebration, which was graced by the presence of the DP and his allies. Instead, he joined the congregation at AIC Milimani.

President Ruto’s silence speaks volumes about the state of affairs within the ruling party (United Democratic Alliance (UDA)). This begs the questions; could this be a deliberate strategy to distance himself from the impeachment process, or he may be using this opportunity to settle his scores with his deputy?

As the drama unfolds, Kenyans wonder what the future holds for the Ruto-Gachagua Duo and whether their partnership will survive the current storm.