Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo has claimed he was offered KSh10 million and received threats before the Senate voted to remove former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua from office, reviving allegations of intimidation during one of Kenya’s most contentious political moments.
Speaking during an interview with Citizen TV, Maanzo alleged that individuals linked to powerful State interests sought to influence how senators would vote. He said lawmakers who appeared reluctant to back the impeachment faced pressure, while those willing to support it were allegedly promised financial rewards.
“I was offered KSh10 million,” Maanzo said, adding that he also received threats before the vote.
The senator did not publicly provide evidence to support the allegations or identify the individuals he believes were behind the purported offer. His claims have not been independently verified, and there has been no official response from the government or the institutions he alluded to at the time of publication.
Maanzo has previously spoken about alleged attempts to influence lawmakers during the impeachment process. Earlier this year, he claimed he had been offered KSh4 million to vote in favour of removing Gachagua and alleged that those who resisted faced intimidation. Those allegations also remain unproven.
Gachagua was impeached by the Senate in October 2024 after the National Assembly approved charges against him. The impeachment followed weeks of political infighting within the Kenya Kwanza administration and marked an unprecedented moment in Kenya’s constitutional history.
Throughout the process, Gachagua denied wrongdoing and maintained that the impeachment was politically motivated. His allies echoed that position, while supporters of the motion argued that the constitutional process had been followed.
Maanzo’s latest remarks are likely to reignite debate over whether lawmakers are sufficiently protected from undue influence during major constitutional votes. They also raise fresh questions about transparency and accountability in Parliament.
No investigations have publicly confirmed the senator’s allegations, and the claims remain his account of events.
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