The Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) was a controversial political process that many felt was being rushed against the people’s will.
Despite being passed overwhelmingly in both the National Assembly and the Senate, and achieving the required two-thirds majority in Parliament, it ultimately failed. Why? The 2010 Constitution was created to protect the will of the people of Kenya, not the interests of political elites.
The courts stood firm in declaring that the process was unconstitutional, highlighting that political leaders cannot impose their will at any cost if it goes against the Constitution and the people’s wishes.
The BBI is a clear lesson for President William Ruto and his political allies, who are now pushing for the impeachment of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. Just like with BBI, the people of Kenya are making their voices heard: they do not support this impeachment.
Political leaders should avoid engaging in unnecessary political machinations and instead focus on delivering on the promises they made to Kenyans. The grounds for Gachagua’s impeachment, as outlined in Article 150 of the Constitution, are flimsy at best and do not meet the serious constitutional criteria required for such an action.
Article 150 clearly states that a Deputy President can only be removed from office on two grounds: physical or mental incapacity, or impeachment for gross violation of the Constitution, committing a crime, or gross misconduct.
None of these serious thresholds have been met, and it is evident that the impeachment push is politically motivated rather than being grounded in the law. This type of politicking will only distract the government from the real issues that Kenyans are facing: the rising cost of living, expensive education and healthcare, and unemployment.
President Ruto must learn from the BBI debacle and stop the sideshows. The Kenyan people have entrusted this government with the responsibility to serve them, not engage in political feuds.
The focus must be on addressing the myriad challenges the country is facing, not on pursuing an unnecessary and divisive impeachment process. It is time to prioritize the people’s needs and deliver on the promises made during the election, rather than being caught up in political power plays that will only hurt the nation.
