ANC legislators threaten to table Ruto’s impeachment
Politicians allied to Amani National Congress (ANC) party yesterday threatened to move an impeachment motion against Deputy President William Ruto over claims that he was disrespectful to his boss, President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Led by Lugari MP and Deputy Party Leader, Ayub Savula, Ruto’s utterances and opposition to the President’s development agenda was a danger to the stability of the nation.
“Ruto has covertly dissented and continued to sabotage the President and his agenda. He does that through incitement of the vulnerable poor,” Savula told a press conference at the party headquarters.
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ANC is headed by former Vice-President Musalia Mudavadi.
In a hard-hitting statement, the party said that it was unacceptable for the DP to sabotage the very government that he is part of from within, undermining public confidence in government, creating disaffection and inciting rebellion while at the top of echelons of government.
The MPS said they were angered by Ruto’s statement made at a church in Kayole which appeared to disparage President Uhuru Kenyatta during the burial of Mudavadi’s mother in vihiga on Saturday.
Elect leaders
Addressing mourners, Uhuru said time had come for Kenyans to elect a leader from outside the two communities which have held power since independence.
But in response, Ruto said that when he campaigned for Uhuru in 2013 and 2017 it was not because of his tribe but the ability to deliver to the people of Kenya.
He went on to urge his competitors to base their politics on ideologies and not tribe.
This is the second impeachment threat against Ruto this year after Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma said last week that the National Assembly would prioritise Ruto’s impeachment in 2021.
In a tweet, Kaluma said that the only way Ruto can avoid impeachment is if he resigns.
“Ruto has engaged in gross insubordination undermining the President at every turn. He must be removed from office,” Kaluma wrote.
“William Ruto must ship out or be impeached. This is Parliament’s priority engagement this year!,” he added.
Savula who was accompanied by MPs Beatrice Adagala and Teso North MP Oku Kaunya said Ruto swore to serve the people of Kenya diligently by assisting the President prosecute government agenda but has since dissented.
“Ruto has since deviated, nay, subverted his oath of office loyally to serve the President. Just this Sunday, Ruto has the shameless knack to call the President, his boss, a tribalist,” read the statement by ANC.
Small party
But in response Ruto allies dismissed ANC as a small party which has no clout and capacity to mount a successful impeachment motion.
Kimilili MP Didmus Baraza said ANC has very few members to even register the required one third of the members to move the motion.
“We are ready for such a motion but not from ANC, they are very few to deserve our response.
If ANC failed to discipline their wayward member, Geoffrey Osotsi how do they expect to impeach the DP?,” posed Baraza.
His Keiyo South counterpart Daniel Rono laughed off the threat terming it a waste of time.
“In fact I will advise President Uhuru and Raila Odinga not to be dragged into the matter as it will end up embarrassing the plotters.”
Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri said the ANC officials were excited by the President’s speech.
“They will be in for a shock as he will make similar sentiments when he tours Raila Odinga’s backyard, that of Kalonzo Musyoka and any other person interested in the top seat.”
“We would like to tell ANC or any other party that we the Ruto supporters are ready for the purported motion against the DP, it should not be delayed any longer,” Kimani said.
Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot dismissed the ANC as a small party with no capacity to build up a successful motion.
“ANC which has three senators and six MPs in the National Assembly threatening to impeach DP Ruto. Laughable,” said Cheruiyot.
