Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo has threatened to table a motion in Parliament seeking to permanently bar former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua from holding any public office in Kenya.
Speaking during a funds drive in Rongo on Sunday, Otiende accused Gachagua of promoting divisive politics and ignoring the lessons from his 2024 impeachment by the Senate. According to the legislator, Gachagua’s conduct continues to polarize the country and threaten national unity.
“Everyday you speak, we realized you never learnt your lesson,” Otiende said. “We now want to remind you that we impeached you under article 75 of the constitution. We did not go far enough, we only impeached you.”
Otiende argued that Parliament has the constitutional authority to invoke Article 75(3), which prevents anyone impeached under the same article from ever contesting for elective office. He warned Gachagua that his continued use of inflammatory language could trigger such a move.
“If you continue speaking that divisive language, we will come back for a special motion under article 75 (3), which then declares that anyone removed from office under article 75 can not stand for any office in life,” Otiende warned.
He added, “Do not think there are no consequences. There will be consequences if you continue with divisive language.”
Gachagua, who now leads the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), has launched a political offensive aimed at undermining President William Ruto’s leadership, but his recent remarks have stirred national controversy.
During a rally in Ukambani, Gachagua referred to the Kamba community as “cousins” of the Mt. Kenya people which many leaders saw it as a veiled attempt to tribalize politics.
Key figures within Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza coalition accused Gachagua of stoking ethnic tensions. Farouk Kibet, a top advisor to the President, condemned the former deputy president’s language as dangerous.
“He has now started calling other communities cousins. Gachagua is someone who should not be paid attention to,” Farouk said. “And we are asking the churches not to give room to such people who were removed from office for not helping President Ruto while in office.”
