Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, addressing the media. PHOTO/UGC.
By ABDULHAKIM SHERMAN
newshub@eyewitness.africa
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, has praised Kenyan journalists for exposing mega corruption in the public sector and asked them to continue speaking to power and hold the government to account.
Mr Gachagua said the role of journalists in fostering transparency and accountability in how public affairs are conducted cannot be gainsaid and asked them to keep up the good job.
The DP was speaking to journalists during a press conference at his Karen residence where he was defending himself against allegations in an impeachment motion by Kibwezi West MP, Eckomas Mwengi Mutuse.
Mr Gachagua singled out the role of journalists in exposing the multi-billion contracts the government had entered into with Adani Group linked to controversial Indian businessmen Gautam Adani, as among the splendid job journalists had done in exposing corruption in the public sector.
“You have been doing a good job by asking the government questions on the Adani Group projects and other issues, but it is good to give those concerned a right of reply,” he noted.
The DP has vowed to fight his impeachment battle until the end, brushing off any possibility of resignation.
During a tense two-hour press briefing at his official residence in Karen, Nairobi, on Monday evening, Mr Gachagua said the 11 grounds presented against him for impeachment are baseless, frivolous and lack merit.
Earlier, there were speculations that Mr Gachagua would have used the address to announce his resignation before he heads to Parliament this evening to defend himself. However, he vowed to face his accusers head-on.
“This is a man elected by 7.2 million Kenyans. How dare you suggest to him that he can do so without public participation? I have no intention whatsoever to resign from this job. I will fight to the end,” he added.
Gautam Adani is the chairman of Adani Group. PHOTO/Wikimedia Commons.
In the long briefing, Mr Gachagua gave a detailed response on each of the 11 grounds, accusing Kibwezi legislator Mutuse, the motion’s sponsor, of failing to conduct due diligence in preparing the motion.
The Deputy President accused him of spreading ‘falsehoods’ to tarnish his reputation.
Mr Gachagua mainly centred his address on his family’s alleged questionable accumulation of KSh5.2bn ($40m) in the two years he has been Deputy President.
In his explanation, the DP said some of the wealth said to be proceeds of crime belonged to his brother Nderitu Gachagua, who was a wealthy politician before he died in 2017.
“The properties they say are proceeds of crime arise from the sale of some of my late brother’s estates, as I am one of the executors of his will,” he said.
Mr Gachagua said he will present himself before Parliament today between 5pm and 7pm, and later in the Senate if the legislators vote to have him impeached.
The motion was officially tabled in parliament last Tuesday after getting the support of 291 legislators.
Today, parliament is set to start hearing the case seeking the DP’s removal from office. The general debate on the motion is expected to last for about seven hours.
Mr Gachagua will be given a chance to be heard for at least two hours before the legislators vote on the matter. Mutuse will then get 30 minutes to respond to the DP’s statement after which parliament will take a vote on the DP’s removal.
If the motion is supported by 233 legislators, National Assembly speaker Moses Wetang’ula will send it to the speaker of the Senate within two days.
However, if the motion does not receive the support of 233 legislators, the matter will stand concluded, and Gachagua will continue to be the substantive office holder.
