Nyeri County Senator Wahome Wamatinga has issued a legal demand against former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over remarks he claims were defamatory and damaging to his reputation.
The controversy stems from a speech delivered by Gachagua in Machakos County on March 2, 2025, where he alleged that Wamatinga had accepted a Ksh 10 million bribe to betray him during a critical Senate impeachment vote.
Gachagua further claimed that while certain leaders from Ukambani refused bribes, some from Mt. Kenya, including Wamatinga, allegedly gave in to financial persuasion, which he described as an act of betrayal.
The remarks, widely shared across mainstream and social media platforms, have sparked intense debate, prompting Wamatinga’s legal team to demand an immediate retraction and public apology.
Through a letter from Wycliffe Nyabuto Advocates, the senator has dismissed the claims as false, misleading, and intended to incite public emotions against him. He maintains that his vote in the Senate impeachment trial was based on evidence and the rule of law rather than any external influence as suggested by Gachagua.
The demand notice states that the accusations portray Wamatinga as corrupt, dishonest, and lacking integrity, significantly harming his standing as a leader.
The senator is seeking for an immediate and unequivocal retraction of Gachagua’s statements as well as a public apology through national and international media.
He further wants the former deputy president to write an admission of liability to the country.
Wamatinga has given a deadline of March 8, 2025, for compliance, warning that failure to meet the demands will result in legal action to protect his reputation.
