By Gilbert Mbaya
Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo has issued a strong warning to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, threatening to table a special motion in Parliament that could permanently bar him from holding public office in Kenya.
Speaking during a fundraising event in Rongo on Sunday, Otiende accused Gachagua of continuing to spread divisive and ethnic-based politics, despite being impeached by the Senate in 2024 under Article 75 of the Constitution.
"Every day you speak, we realize you never learnt your lesson. We impeached you under Article 75—we didn’t go far enough. We only impeached you," Otiende declared.
The outspoken lawmaker now says Parliament could revisit the matter and invoke Article 75(3) of the Constitution, which states that a public officer removed from office for violating Chapter Six on Leadership and Integrity may be disqualified from holding any other public position.
"If you continue speaking that divisive language, we will come back with a special motion. Article 75(3) allows us to declare you unfit to ever hold office again. There will be consequences," Otiende warned.
Gachagua’s Rhetoric Under Fire
Gachagua, who has launched a nationwide campaign against President William Ruto and his administration, has been widely criticized for remarks perceived as tribal and polarizing.
Leaders from President Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza coalition and members supporting the new broad-based government have accused the former Deputy President of fueling ethnic tensions and undermining national unity.
"Gachagua is on a mission to divide Kenyans along ethnic lines. His rhetoric is dangerous and must be stopped," said a senior UDA legislator who asked not to be named.
Since his fallout with President Ruto and subsequent impeachment, Gachagua has reinvented himself as an opposition voice—often accusing the Kenya Kwanza administration of betrayal and marginalizing communities that supported them in the last election.
Legal and Political Fallout Looms
If Otiende’s motion gains traction in Parliament, it could become the first test case for the application of Article 75(3)—raising both legal and political stakes for Gachagua.
Political analysts say the move could trigger a fierce constitutional debate on whether an impeached deputy president can be permanently barred from seeking elective office, even without a court conviction.
While Gachagua has not yet responded to Otiende's threats, sources close to him indicate he is preparing a legal team to challenge any such move in court.
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