Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Monday, October 7 evening clarified that his recent apology to President William Ruto should not be seen as an admission of guilt.
Gachagua made the apology during a Sunday address, where he expressed regret for any unintended disappointments he may have caused the President and Members of Parliament (MPs). However, he firmly stated that his apology was not tied to the accusations against him.
In a follow-up address on Monday, Gachagua emphasized that his intention was simply to clear any misunderstandings that might have arisen unknowingly. He explained that he had not been told by President Ruto of any specific wrongdoing on his part.
His apology, he said, was not related to the claims surrounding an impeachment motion brought against him.
“I want to clarify that my apology to President William Ruto didn’t imply that I am guilty.It was no way an admission of these ridiculous accusations meant to overturn the will of the people.” Gachagua said. He continued to state that, “It was just a gesture to ask for forgiveness in case there is something I may have done unknowingly that upset him.”
Gachagua went on to stress that the allegations leading to the impeachment motion, filed by Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse, were baseless. He assured the public that the grounds for his impeachment do not meet the legal requirements necessary to justify his removal from office.
The DP added that overturning the will of the people, who had elected him, would go against the Constitution. He vowed to defend himself with evidence before Parliament.
During his Sunday apology, Gachagua also sought forgiveness on behalf of his wife, Pastor Dorcas Gachagua, who is known for her efforts to support the boy child initiative. He asked the President to forgive her if, in her work, she had unintentionally upset anyone.
“To my brother President William Ruto, if in our zeal and commitment to work I have wronged you, please find it in your heart to forgive me. If my spouse Pastor Dorcas in her duties for the boy child has wronged you in any way, find it in your heart to forgive her,” Gachagua said.
He also extended the same message to MPs, asking for their forgiveness if any of his remarks or actions had upset them.
“To our Members of Parliament, if in the course of duty, through our utterances and actions, we have in one way or another upset you, or wronged you, find it in your heart to forgive me,” he added.
The National Assembly is scheduled to debate and vote on the impeachment motion against Gachagua on Tuesday. The motion was filed by MP Mwengi Mutuse, who alleges that Gachagua’s conduct warrants his removal from office. Gachagua, however, remains confident that he will clear his name and continue serving the people.
