Caleb Amisi to Gachagua: You Were Set Up by Ruto to Abuse Raila and Uhuru.
In a recent statement, Saboti Member of Parliament (MP) Caleb Amisi provided insights to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua regarding the overwhelming support from the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) for his impeachment. Amisi’s comments reveal a deeper context behind the political turmoil surrounding Gachagua, linking it to his past behavior during the contentious 2022 presidential election campaign.
In a post shared on X, Amisi specifically tied the impeachment vote to Gachagua’s inflammatory rhetoric aimed at ODM leader Raila Odinga and retired President Uhuru Kenyatta. He shared a video clip of Gachagua speaking to a crowd in Chaka, Nyeri County, where Gachagua accused Raila of bewitching Uhuru, portraying him as a political villain. Such attacks, Amisi argues, deeply offended ODM members, leading them to view the impeachment opportunity as a chance for retribution.
“The speech that made #Raila MPs impeach #Gachagua en masse. You were set up by Ruto to abuse Raila and Uhuru, an assignment that you did viciously. That was the start of your downfall. Blame no one else but your inability to detect ‘perception.’ In politics, just like in war, learn to shoot in the air even when ordered to shoot to kill! It is simply a dangerous game! No permanent friend, no permanent enemy!” Amisi wrote.
Amisi further suggested that President William Ruto had deliberately set Gachagua up, knowing that his harsh criticism of Raila and Uhuru would eventually backfire. This point underscores the political machinations at play, as Gachagua had aggressively campaigned against both leaders, helping to secure the Mt Kenya vote for Ruto—a critical factor in Ruto’s narrow victory over Raila.
In the closely contested 2022 elections, Ruto garnered 7,176,141 votes, while Raila received 6,942,930, a margin of just 233,211 votes. Despite Uhuru’s endorsement, Ruto’s campaign effectively portrayed Raila as the bogeyman of the Mt Kenya region, leading to a landslide victory in the area.
The political landscape shifted dramatically as ODM sought retribution through Gachagua’s impeachment in Parliament. Accused of promoting ethnically divisive politics, Gachagua had failed to fulfill the expectations of a national unifier. His coined phrase “usiguze murima” (spelt as mlima), meaning “don’t touch the mountain,” positioned him as a fierce defender of the Mt Kenya region, but ultimately backfired as clips of his controversial statements were played during the impeachment proceedings.
The success of Gachagua’s impeachment was largely facilitated by Ruto’s new alliance with Raila, whose MPs and senators voted overwhelmingly to remove the Deputy President from office. Notably, the National Assembly appointed a close associate of Raila, Siaya Governor and senior counsel James Orengo, to lead its legal team during the impeachment trial in the Senate.
Currently, Ruto is leveraging the political support of Raila, whose strongholds in Nyanza, Western, Coast, and Nairobi could secure Ruto an easier path to re-election if their alliance remains intact through 2027. To solidify this relationship, Ruto has appointed four senior members of Raila’s party to his cabinet and is backing him for the influential position of the next African Union Commission (AUC) chairman.
The shifting alliances between Ruto and Raila have a complex history, characterized by rivalries and partnerships over the years. In the 2002 presidential election, Ruto supported Uhuru while Raila backed the late President Mwai Kibaki. In 2007, Ruto switched allegiances to support Raila, while Uhuru stood with Kibaki in an election that resulted in widespread violence and subsequent ICC indictments for both men.
However, Ruto and Uhuru formed a joint ticket in the 2013 and 2017 elections, defeating Raila each time. Now, with Gachagua ousted and Ruto leaning on Raila’s support, the political landscape of Kenya has taken another unexpected turn.
Gachagua, whose rise was fueled by his aggressive tactics against Raila, now finds himself sidelined as Ruto cultivates a new alliance with his former rival. Should Gachagua’s impeachment be stayed by the courts, he faces a lifetime ban from contesting any public office in Kenya, marking a significant fall from grace in the turbulent world of Kenyan politics.
Article By Suzy Nyongesa.
