By Irene Makena
After weeks of demonstrations by GenZs, very unfortunate events are unfolding in our country. Instead of President William Ruto implementing reforms as demanded by the Kenyan public, he seems to have embarked on a journey of retribution and a smear campaign.
The object of vilification is no other than Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. Even before the demonstrations began, rumours were rife that the president and his deputy had the usual housekeeping small issues associated with Kenyan politics.
However, no one foresaw a situation where democratic expression of disaffection by Kenyans could be turned into a charge sheet against the deputy president. It all started by branding demonstrations as a foreign sponsored coup attempt in a highly obnoxious political propaganda. We were told that the so-called regime change attempt was masterminded by the Ford Foundation. At times, even the name of former president Uhuru Kenyatta was tagged in. Now, they seem to have settled on DP Gachagua as the fall guy.
The president has found a perfect opportunity to sacrifice those who have fallen out of favour, starting with the Deputy President. As a result, an impeachment motion against Rigathi Gachagua is said to be in the works. Senior staff in the DPs office have been harassed and interrogated by the DCI in an attempt to manufacture grounds for his eventual removal from office. The humiliation and scheme against the DP is a slap in the face of the people of Mt Kenya region, who overwhelmingly voted for William Ruto with Rigathi as their surety.
We feel that accusing the Deputy President of trying to overthrow his own government is not only ridiculous, it is also a petty scheme that is already sowing seeds of division in our country. The expectation that the President would navigate the country from the current crisis without unnecessary distractions seems to be in vain. On the contrary, he has started 2027 campaign in earnest.
Let us imagine. Just imagine that the Deputy President was engaged in a clandestine plot to overthrow his own government. Where was the National Intelligence Service (NIS)? Where was the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI)? Indeed, where was the President himself when his principal assistant was plotting a coup under his very nose?
If indeed there is the slightest indication that such a plot existed, then the heads of both the NIS and the DCI should not only resign because of incompetence, they should face criminal prosecution either for complicity in treason, abdication of duty or both. Unless the plotter of the coup was doing so spiritually, it is not possible that the two agencies failed to get a whiff of the treasonous plan. Playing catch up to justify political shenanigans is not the business of any credible intelligence body. Their work should always be pre-emptive.
We know that the UDA troops in the National Assembly and the senate have been put in red alert for the political kill. Obviously, we also know the current realignments in the government are meant to support and supplement the downfall of Rigathi Gachagua.
The plan is to replace the DP with spineless characters from Mt Kenya region, specifically either Kiambu.
But, let us remind the President that they ran for office on a joint ticket with Rigathi Gachagua. The people made their decision in 2022 based on the joint promise. If the promise has become a mirage, both of them should vacate office and give Kenyans a chance to elect fresh leadership. The question of throwing the co-pilot out of the window mid-air is a cold-hearted political betrayal.
The writer is a nominated member of country assembly of Meru
