Power and politics come with loyalty, betrayal, wins, and losses, and this has been a common trend for many years in Kenya.
While some political leaders rose to power thanks to their association with the ruling regime, others lost power after committing one major mistake that eventually led to their political downfall.
Times Digital Kenya looks at some of these leaders who suffered major setbacks in their political careers after actions that cost them their power.
Rigathi Gachagua
Although Rigathi Gachagua served as a one-term Member of Parliament for Mathira Constituency from 2017 to 2022, he swiftly rose to become Deputy President after the 2022 general election.
William Ruto appointed Gachagua as his running mate just a few months to the polls, despite the fact that not many Kenyans knew him at the time.
Known for his vocal nature, once in office Gachagua did not measure his words, and at some point he began clashing with President William Ruto’s insiders, including MP Oscar Sudi and Ruto’s personal assistant, Farouk Kibet.
His tenure did not end well after Hon. Mwengi Mutuse sponsored a Special Motion that saw Gachagua impeached by the National Assembly. His spell as Deputy President lasted only two years and a few months.
Gachagua became the first Deputy President to be removed from office in this manner since impeachment was introduced in Kenya’s 2010 Constitution.
Mike Sonko
Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko is another renowned politician who was ousted from office after falling out with the President of Kenya at the time, Uhuru Kenyatta.
Having served as a Senator for five years, Sonko was elected Governor in 2017 but did not last long, as he was impeached in 2020.
Sonko was charged with conflict of interest, money laundering, and the fraudulent acquisition of public property.
Years after leaving office, Sonko claimed that his removal was orchestrated by cartels and elements within Uhuru Kenyatta’s government.
Ferdinand Waititu
Just like Sonko, Ferdinand Waititu was elected Governor of Kiambu County in 2017.
He was removed from office in 2020 through impeachment on counts of gross violation of the Constitution, abuse of office, gross misconduct, and committing crimes.
Waititu’s downfall was associated with conflict with the national government, which was said to have had a hand in the motion.
Jaramogi Oginga Odinga
Such incidents have also occurred in the past. Kenya’s Vice President, Oginga Odinga, was among the first leaders to openly disagree with the system of the day.
Just a few years after Kenya’s independence, Jaramogi and President Jomo Kenyatta began to differ, causing a huge rift between the two leaders who were once very close friends.
Jaramogi Oginga Odinga opposed the growing U.S. influence in Kenya and disagreed with the Kenyatta government for failing to empower the poor, instead serving foreign interests.
By 1966, Jomo Kenyatta did everything possible to reduce Jaramogi’s influence, not only within KANU but also across the country, by creating eight vice president positions.
Oginga viewed this as a deliberate move and resigned from his position as Vice President as well as from KANU, Kenya’s founding party. He later formed the Kenya People’s Union (KPU), which became the main opposition outfit.
