Public participation
Kiambu county residents have protested against the government’s decision to conduct the public participation exercise on the intended impeachment of Deputy president Rigathi Gachagua on paper(manually) instead of digital means.
They were afraid that paperwork was more prone to abuse and easier to manipulate than digital means. They expressed fear that the end results may not be representative of the exercise if integrity and transparency was not exercised by presiding officials.
The residents demanded for Comprehensive Political Reforms in order to improve decision-making processes. They voiced these demands on Friday during a public participation forum to meant to offer them a chance to present their views on the ongoing call for Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s impeachment.
The residents who were discussing the matter at the Kiambu Social Hall became rowdy and declined to sign the forms provided, citing concerns that the forms were not original and legitimate. The residents voiced broader discontent, demanding the impeachment of both the Deputy President and President William Ruto, stating that both leaders should vacate office together.
Their dissatisfaction was not limited to the DP, with many calling for a lifestyle audit of all politicians in the country, not just Gachagua. “We demand accountability from every leader, and this should start with a lifestyle audit of all elected officials, including MPs, senators, governors, and the president, not just the DP,” James Kinuthia, a Kiambu resident said during the forum.
Kiambu residents at the Kiambu Social Hall during a public participation forum over the intendend impeachment of deputy president Rigathi Gachagua. The meeting ended in chaos.
The people of Kiambu also urged parliamentarians to focus on critical national issues, such as the proposed State Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), the Social Health Authority (SHA), and the controversial Adani deal, which has stirred debate across the country.
“We, the people of Kiambu, are calling on our parliamentarians to redirect their focus towards critical national matters which have far-reaching consequences for Kenyans. These issues demand immediate and transparent debate to safeguard the interests of the public rather than being overshadowed by political drama,” Elias Mwangi, Sauti ya Mkenya President for Kenyans and Kenyans living in diaspora said.
According to the participants, the country’s leadership should prioritize addressing these pressing issues over political disputes. Another key issue raised by the residents was the reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), which they claimed was crucial.
The impeachment motion against Gachagua was tabled in the National Assembly on October 1, 2024 led by Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse, and the petition was signed by 291 MPs. The motion had listed 11 grounds for Gachagua’s removal, including allegations of gross violations of the Constitution, corruption, and undermining national cohesion.
Public participation in the impeachment process was scheduled to take place across all 47 counties on Friday October 4 while the Deputy President is expected to defend himself on October 8, 2024.