Impeached Deputy President Accuses President of Endangering His Life

Kenya’s impeached Deputy President, Rigathi Gachagua, has launched a scathing attack on President William Ruto, accusing him of being “vicious” and putting his life at risk.

Gachagua made these allegations on Sunday, just days after the Senate impeached him on five out of eleven charges. A court order has temporarily paused the process of appointing his replacement.

Gachagua, who is popularly known as “Riggy G,” expressed shock at the turn of events, accusing President Ruto, whom he supported during the closely contested 2022 elections, of betrayal. “I am shocked by how vicious a man I helped to be president, believed in and was persecuted when I supported, could be so vicious against me,” he said during a press conference in Nairobi.

The 59-year-old revealed that his security detail had been withdrawn, and his staff placed on compulsory leave. He further claimed there had been past attempts on his life through poisoning and warned that if any harm came to him or his family, President Ruto should be held accountable.

Gachagua, who hails from Kenya’s largest ethnic group, the Kikuyu, survived past corruption scandals to rise as Ruto’s running mate in the August 2022 election. However, tensions have recently surfaced, with Gachagua accusing the president of sidelining him. He has also been accused of supporting youth-led anti-government protests sparked by unpopular tax hikes, which have deepened political rifts within the country’s leadership.

One of the most serious impeachment charges against Gachagua involves allegations that he threatened a judge. Despite his legal team’s efforts to block the Senate proceedings, the courts allowed the impeachment debate to continue. On Tuesday, a High Court refused to suspend the Senate session, and a subsequent ruling on Wednesday gave the green light for the impeachment process.

While President Ruto has not commented publicly on the situation, Gachagua suggested that the process could not have advanced without the president’s approval. Following his recent discharge from a hospital in Nairobi, where he was treated for severe chest pains, Gachagua maintained that his political battle is far from over, though his future remains uncertain.
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