These hearings, held in different counties across the country, saw both strong support for and opposition to the impeachment.
The issue sparked heated debates, demonstrations, and even chaos in some areas as the public voiced their views ahead of the scheduled vote by MPs.
In Nairobi, the main public participation event took place at Bomas of Kenya, where hundreds of residents from the city’s constituencies turned up. The venue was packed to capacity, and many were left outside.
Inside, people passionately shared their opinions, with some supporting the motion while others opposed it. Ruaraka MP TJ Kajwang’, who chaired the session, had a difficult time managing the crowd as many scrambled for the microphone to speak.
Tensions rose when activist Morara Kebaso, who was calling for President Ruto’s resignation, was attacked by a group of youth. The incident highlighted the deep political divide.
In Mt. Kenya, where Mr. Gachagua hails from, the public hearings were marked by instances of chaos. In counties such as Nyeri, Murang’a, and Kirinyaga, rival groups clashed, with police using teargas to break up protests.
In Gachagua’s home county of Nyeri, protests erupted as some locals accused politicians of bribing residents to support the impeachment. Some groups even demanded that President William Ruto also be included in the ouster motion, chanting "No Gachagua, no Ruto."
Despite the tensions in Mt. Kenya, the public participation process went smoothly in regions like Meru, Embu, and Tharaka Nithi. However, in other parts of the country like Garissa and Kisumu, there was strong support for the impeachment, with some people accusing the Deputy President of only focusing on the interests of his Mt. Kenya region.
In Garissa, locals expressed frustration with Gachagua’s divisive comments and accused him of failing to unite the country as the Deputy President.
In counties like Kakamega, Kisii, and Siaya, there were mixed reactions. In Kisumu and Kakamega, confrontations between opposing groups caused disruptions.
Some participants in these areas argued that if Gachagua is to be impeached, President Ruto should also be removed from office for failing to deliver on his promises.
In Kisii, a majority of residents supported the motion, while a few expressed concern about the process being used for political revenge.
In Nakuru, things quickly descended into chaos as locals protested that the public participation exercise lacked transparency. The event had to be moved from its original venue, and police were called in to restore order.
In other regions like Mombasa, Kwale, and Kilifi, the hearings proceeded more peacefully, although some people expressed doubts about the fairness of the process.
The impeachment process has not only exposed tensions between supporters and opponents of the Deputy President but has also raised questions about the leadership of both Gachagua and President Ruto.
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