Kenya:Impeached Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua Claims Assassination Plots Before Ouster

By Samuel Ouma

Kenya's impeached Deputy President, Rigathi Gachagua, has alleged that there were assassination plans against him before his impeachment.

Addressing journalists on Sunday, October 20, after he was discharged from the hospital where he was taken because of chest pain, Gachagua alleged that there were two assassinations on him in Kisumu and Nyeri.

According to him, the first attempt occurred in August and the second in September.

" On August 30, while I was in Kisumu, there was an assassination attempt on me after my food was poisoned. Gladly, we found out early enough. The second time was in Nyeri where I was meeting the Kikuyu Council of elders," said Gachagua.

He said that he had reported the incident to the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and asked the officers assigned to his office to leave because he felt unsafe.

Gachagua's claims come just days after his impeachment, approved by a majority vote in the Senate and the National Assembly on charges of abuse of office, graft, and gross misconduct.

Rigathi has furiously disputed the claims, stating they are politically motivated and intended to remove him from power because of his anti-corruption drive.