The Gachagua Impeachment Debacle: A Comedy of Political Errors

The ongoing drama surrounding the impeachment of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has exposed a glaring weakness in the Ruto administration’s decision-making process. Time and again, we’ve highlighted how the government seems to charge into decisions without thinking them through—akin to a rhino charging at its target, only to miss and find itself far off course. The Gachagua impeachment effort is the perfect example of this “rhino approach” in action.

High Drama and Embarrassing Missteps

The impeachment plan, launched with great aggression, has now run into a series of serious issues. Initially, the administration seemed confident, with over 200 legislators signing the impeachment motion—far exceeding the required minimum. Yet, the entire process has been riddled with embarrassing mistakes and a lack of foresight.

1. Speaker and Deputy Speaker Bias

Both the Speaker of the National Assembly, Moses Wetangula, and Deputy Speaker Gladys Boss Shollei made public statements supporting Gachagua’s impeachment. Their comments undermined their supposed impartiality, raising serious questions about the fairness of the process.

2. Public Backlash in Mount Kenya

Predictably, the impeachment bid has sparked a strong backlash in the Mount Kenya region. Residents and leaders view the move as an attack on the entire region rather than just on Gachagua. This has created a political nightmare for legislators who initially supported the motion, many of whom now live in fear of public reprisal.

3. A Sudden Change in Strategy

Faced with mounting opposition, the Ruto administration appears to have shifted gears, emphasizing “public participation” in the impeachment process. This is widely seen as an attempt to backtrack, with the government potentially using public opinion as an excuse to abandon the impeachment altogether.

The Bigger Picture: A Strategic Miscalculation

The Gachagua impeachment has exposed a deeper issue within the Ruto administration: a failure to gauge the political temperature of the country. By launching this aggressive bid, the government has inadvertently opened a door to a much larger movement—one that could demand the removal of both Gachagua and Ruto.

Damage Already Done: Even if the government retreats from the impeachment, the political damage is irreversible. Mount Kenya residents feel alienated, and the administration’s credibility is in tatters.

Growing Public Frustration: Amid economic hardship and failed policies (like the controversial university funding model), Kenyans are increasingly frustrated. The impeachment drama risks further inflaming public discontent.

An Unintended Consequence: Instead of sidelining Gachagua, the administration’s actions could galvanize a movement calling for the entire presidency to step down.

A Government in Panic

Reports of President Ruto visiting Gachagua’s residence in Karen have fueled speculation that State House is panicking. The initial confidence in Gachagua’s impeachment has given way to cold feet as the political fallout becomes clearer.

This debacle reveals the administration’s inability to anticipate the consequences of its actions. The lack of a well-thought-out strategy has turned what could have been a straightforward political maneuver into a high-stakes drama that threatens the stability of the government itself.

The Takeaway

As Kenyans watch this political spectacle unfold, one thing is clear: the Ruto administration has blundered in a way no government should. By failing to think through its decisions, it has not only undermined its own position but also created the conditions for a broader political crisis.