President William Ruto’s aide will be among the three witnesses who will testify against Deputy President (DP) Rigathi Gachagua during the debate on his impeachment motion have been revealed. According to NTV, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, former KEMSA Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr. Andrew Mulwa, and Secretary to the Cabinet Mercy Wanjau will testify.
In her affidavit, Mercy Wanjau has accused Gachagua of opposing the evacuation of Nairobi residents living within 30 meters of the Nairobi River, even though the cabinet, in which the DP sits, had approved the move.
Article 154 of the Constitution establishes the office of Secretary to the Cabinet under the public service.
Mercy Wanjau Roles
The Secretary is appointed by the President with the approval of the National Assembly. The office holder may be dismissed by the President.
Wanjau has charge of the Cabinet Office and conveys the decisions of the Cabinet to the appropriate persons or authorities.
Besides, she is responsible, subject to the directions of the Cabinet, for arranging the business and keeping the minutes, of the Cabinet.
She may also perform other functions as directed by the Cabinet.
Sakaja & Dr. Mulwa Affidavits
Dr. Andrew Mulwa will be the first witness to testify against the DP. In his sworn affidavit to the National Assembly, he has accused the DP and his son Keith Rigathi of interference in the issuance of a Ksh3.7 billion mosquito net tender.
Sakaja will also testify against the DP. In his affidavit, Sakaja has accused Gachagua of opposing the relocation of traders from Nairobi’s Wakulima Market to Kangundo Road Market.
Sakaja stated that this is a decision of the county government and not that of the office of the DP, hence Gachagua violated the principle of separation of powers.
Also Read: Babu Owino Explains Why He Failed to Sign Gachagua’s Impeachment Motion
Gachagua Legal Team
NTV reports that the DP has held back-to-back highly secretive meetings with the lawyers who will represent him in the Senate should the impeachment motion go through at the National Assembly.
Gachagua has assembled a battery of 20 advocates, including senior counsels, to defend him both in Parliament and in the courts.
The legal team will be led by Senior Counsels Paul Mwite, Victor Swanya, Tom Macharia, Amos Kisilu, and Elisha Ongoya.
Dorcas Rigathi Court Case
While Gachagua has been preparing his defense team, his wife Dorcas Rigathi and son Keith have been in the corridors of the Milimani Law Court.
Dorcas and Keith want the court to exclude Morani Manufacturers Limited from the list of companies that the DP allegedly used to amass Ksh5.2 billion in the past two years through corruption and money laundering, as mentioned in the impeachment motion.
Morani’s defense team led by Shandrack Wambui, Sam Njeri, and Danstan Omari asked the court to exclude the company from the impeachment motion.
Also Read: 4 Security Threats Gachagua Impeachment is Likely to Cause – Report
The company is owned by Dorcas, Keith, and Joshua Karianjahi Waiganjo. Waiganjo is the same man who was arrested for impersonating an assistant commissioner of police but was acquitted in March 2024.
“Since June 2022, that company has never dealt with any business. It has not done any transactions during the period that Dorcas and Keith have been shareholders,” Shandrack Wambui said.
The lawyers have revealed that they will ask the court to compel Kibwezi West Member of Parliament (MP) Eckomas Mutuse Mwengi to remove Dorcas and Keith from the motion.
“The wife of the Deputy President is not elected; she was seduced and married by Gachagua. She is not involved in this matter,” Omari said.
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