Kenya: Unraveling Executive Fallout Amid Political and Economic Distress with Hillary Panashe on African Report

Kenya has witnessed a series of political upheavals in recent months, marked by deadly protests in July and the subsequent mass dismissal of the cabinet by President William Ruto. The political drama intensified with the unprecedented impeachment of Vice President Rigathi Gachagua on October 17 by the legislature.
Gachagua, who was Ruto’s running mate in the 2022 elections, faced multiple allegations, including corruption, money laundering, inciting violence along tribal lines, undermining government authority, and abuse of office. Both houses of the Kenyan legislature, the National Assembly and the Senate, voted overwhelmingly in favor of his impeachment, marking the first time a sitting deputy president has been removed from office since the impeachment law was enacted in 2010.
In response, Gachagua described the impeachment as a political witch hunt. This latest development reflects a long-standing rift between the Ruto and Gachagua factions, with both sides exchanging accusations of bad faith. While the President has remained largely silent on the matter, Gachagua has openly accused him of being vicious, further deepening the political divide in the country.
African Report” with Hillary as he explores the current political landscape in Kenya with expert Ruth Kinyanjui, a Political, Governance, and Economic Analyst. Watch the episode of his interview with Ruth Kinyanjui here.