Francis Atwoli Wants Rigathi Gachagua Arrested: "He Thinks He's President"

• COTU secretary general Francis Atwoli said the constitution should be amended to ensure a deputy president remains an appointee
• According to Atwoli, being a running mate made Rigathi Gachagua think he is a co-president with William Ruto
• The long-serving trade unionist said Gachagua should be arrested for publicly opposing the government's agenda

Amos Khaemba, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Nairobi - COTU secretary general Francis Atwoli has blasted Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over his alleged fallout with President William Ruto.

Why does Francis Atwoli want the law changed?

Weighing in on the ongoing debate on the impeachment of Gachagua on Monday, September 23, Atwoli called for a re-evaluation of the position within the government.

According to Atwoli, the DP's position should remain as an appointee of the president rather than as a running mate, as in the current state.

The long-serving trade unionists argued that the country would have less drama with the deputy being an appointee.

"I said earlier on that the position of deputy president must remain of appointment, being appointed by the president. And we know this sarcasm here. The deputy president should be an appointee of the president, not a running mate. Because when he becomes a running mate, he thinks he's also a president," Atwoli said.

Why should Gachagua be arrested?

Atwoli suggested that Gachagua should be arrested for publicly opposing the Kenya Kwanza government agenda.

He stated that if it had been during the KANU era, the deputy president would have already been arrested for contradicting the president.

"He must be arrested. If it were our KANU government, we would have arrested him in the morning. You can't contradict government policies, contradict your own president, contradict everything," he stated.

Atwoli argued that as it is, there is a perception of shared authority and some entitlement that the officeholders feel they are equal to the president, which he noted should not be the case.

"A deputy president is supposed to play the fool. He's supposed to be just, not even to be heard unless he has been told he will be heard now. What country cannot have two presidents at the same time?" he posed

Why Atheists in Kenya want Gachagua impeached

Elsewhere, Harrison Mumia, president of the Atheists in Kenya, joined the voices calling for the deputy president's impeachment.

The group accuses Gachagua of fostering tribal politics, which they believe could have contributed to the turmoil Kenya witnessed after the 2007 elections.

According to a press statement witnessed by TUKO.co.ke, Mumia argues that the deputy president’s recent comments serve only to advance his political agenda, promoting patronage and cronyism.

Proofreading by Otukho Jackson, a multimedia journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke