In 2024, Kenya experienced one of its most delicate political moments since the 2010 Constitution came into force. Reports of a widening rift between President William Ruto and his deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, dominated national discourse, raising fears of a potential government breakdown.
Amid the growing tension, the late Emurua Dikir MP Johanna Ng’eno emerged as an unexpected figure credited by his supporters with helping to steer the country away from instability.
The turning point came in August 2024 during a Presidential Development Tour of Kisumu County. President Ruto was hosted at the Kisumu State Lodge, while Deputy President Gachagua stayed at a hotel in the city. Ng’eno, known for his close political ties to Gachagua, travelled to Kisumu and held a private meeting with the deputy president.
Sources close to the administration later revealed the Kisumu meeting exposed deep political divisions within the highest levels of government. Remarks made during the discussion reportedly hinted at an elaborate plan by the then deputy president, which could have led to the collapse of Ruto’s government if it were to be executed.
Alarmed by what he heard, Ng’eno is said to have concluded that the situation, if left unchecked, could destabilize the country and create uncertainty about Kenya’s leadership.
Determined to prevent the crisis, Ng’eno raised the matter with senior political and religious leaders from the Rift Valley. His concerns prompted a series of behind-the-scenes lobbying, both within government and the opposition, aimed at understanding the depth of the fallout between the President and his Deputy, and finding a constitutional path forward.
The issue soon reached Parliament, where Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse tabled an impeachment motion against Deputy President Gachagua on 18th October 2024. The National Assembly debated and passed the motion with significant support, and the Senate later upheld the decision in line with constitutional procedures.
Supporters of Ng’eno argue that his decision to bring the matter into formal institutions rather than allowing it to fester in secrecy was pivotal. He helped ensure that Kenya’s political stability was preserved and that the rule of law prevailed over personal or factional interests.
They believe he “saved Kenya” by choosing transparency, accountability, and constitutional order at a moment when the nation stood on the brink of a serious political crisis.
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