Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has said he is prepared to work with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua despite having voted to impeach him, arguing that the opposition’s common goal of unseating President William Ruto is more important than their past political differences.
Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV’s The Explainer, Sifuna said political alliances should be guided by shared principles rather than personal history. He maintained that the Linda Mwananchi movement is open to working with anyone committed to defending the Constitution, respecting the rule of law and pursuing political change.
“We will work with everyone who believes in these things, the Constitution and the rule of law. We will work with anyone who believes that Ruto does not deserve an extra day in office and, for as long as that’s our cause, we will work together,” Sifuna said.
His remarks come as opposition figures continue to reshape political alliances ahead of the 2027 General Election, with several leaders signalling a willingness to set aside past disputes in pursuit of a united front.
Sifuna, however, insisted that his support for Gachagua’s impeachment remains unchanged. He said the former deputy president had already faced the constitutional consequences of his actions and dismissed suggestions that the matter should continue to define future political cooperation.
“Nothing has changed. First of all, as a lawyer, I’ll tell you there’s a rule against double jeopardy. He paid for his mistakes, he was impeached. What else do you want me to do, beat him?” he said.
The senator added that Gachagua’s recent criticism of President Ruto had altered the political landscape, arguing that the former deputy president now shares the opposition’s objective of removing the Head of State from office.
“I already voted to impeach him and it was for specific crimes, but he’s the one now saying Ruto is an existential threat to this country and that whatever it takes, he can do to remove him,” Sifuna said.
According to Sifuna, Gachagua carries a particular responsibility because of the role he played in President Ruto’s rise to power.
“He feels largely responsible for Ruto being in power and therefore he has a greater responsibility in removing him than anyone else, and that is something I agree with because, at the end of the day, we have to kick out Ruto,” he said.
The Nairobi senator also rejected allegations that legislators were bribed to support Gachagua’s impeachment, saying his vote reflected positions he had publicly taken long before the motion reached Parliament.
“I did not need any inducement when it came to Gachagua’s impeachment because I had publicly taken positions against some of his conduct and pronouncements, like his interference in the running and management of Nairobi City County,” he said.
His response followed claims by National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed, who recently alleged that money changed hands during the impeachment process.
Addressing an ODM meeting in Kakamega on Sunday, Junet claimed some lawmakers received payments as Parliament considered the motion to remove Gachagua from office. He did not, however, provide evidence or identify those allegedly involved.
The allegations have added a fresh layer of controversy to a process that remains one of the most significant political events of the current administration. No official investigation has substantiated claims of bribery linked to the impeachment.
As political realignments gather pace ahead of 2027, Sifuna’s remarks underscore the shifting alliances taking shape across Kenya’s opposition, where former rivals are increasingly signalling a willingness to work together in pursuit of shared political objectives.
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