Senate Minority Leader James Orengo’s proposal of sponsoring an impeachment against Deputy President William Ruto continues to draw mixed reactions among leaders with Ruto’s key allies cautioning Orengo that he risks facing a big political embarassment with his latest move.
Ruto’s ally, Ainabkoi MP William Chepkut, has told Orengo that impeaching the Deputy President would not be a walk in the park.
“Can someone remind Senator Orengo that the impeachment of a DP is not as easy as ejecting Magerer Langat from ODM?” Chepkut said in a tweet, in apparent reference to the physical ejection of the then ODM executive director from Orange House by goons in 2014.
Chepkut dismissed the impeachment plan as a mere stunt by the opposition to remain relevant. Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri accused Orengo of being used by Raila to malign Ruto’s reputation.
“We know Orengo is speaking for Raila in the propaganda to malign Ruto’s name. ODM should keep off petty politics and allow the ruling party to work for Kenyans,” said Ngunjiri.
But in a TV interview on Tuesday night, Orengo denied the impeachment claims, saying he had only given legal advice on the options available to remove a Deputy President from office.
The Siaya senator also denied that he was acting for the party or its leader Raila Odinga. “The motion is purely my idea and not of ODM leader Raila Odinga or the party,” he said. He, however, said many MPs had warmed up to the idea.
Orengo cited insubordination and corruption allegations as grounds that could be used to introduce an impeachment motion against the Deputy President.