'Impeachment, assassination attempts...' Gachagua likens himself to Donald Trump

During an interview on American Christian media production, The Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN), while on US tour, Gachagua likened himself to Trump, who was impeached twice by the U.S. House of Representatives during his presidency (in 2019 and 2021). 

Unlike Gachagua, who was ousted, Trump, however, remained in office after the Senate failed to reach the two-thirds majority required to remove him from office, effectively saving him from conviction both times. 

“This is the same thing that happened to Donald Trump. He was impeached because of what he believes in, because of his principles, because of doing what is right for the American people," he stated. 

"I stand for what is right, and I will not agree to be part of a government that is killing young people for whatever reason, because it's against certain commandments, it's against my Christian beliefs. It is wrong.”

Gachagua, who was impeached last year, claimed that his removal was driven by moral disagreements with President Ruto. 

"The president had already made up his mind that he needed me out of office. I'm a practicing Christian, and there are certain things that I couldn't agree to," he noted. 

"I tried to persuade him in private within government that it's not right to kill young people because they were expressing themselves, and he couldn't hear of it. I had to call a press conference as deputy president and disagree with the president in public, and he decided that we couldn't stay together."

Further, Gachagua drew more parallels with Trump, claiming that he survived four assassination attempts on his life. 

“Yes, there were two attempts when I was sitting in office. They wanted to poison our food. It did not happen. And when I left office, my security was withdrawn and there have been about four attempts on my life by armed criminal gangs under police provision. And it has not happened because God has taken care of me. Again, a Trump experience,” he remarked. 

During the US campaigns in 2024, Trump reportedly survived two assassination attempts at a time when critics argued that the incidents ultimately boosted support for his candidacy. 

The former DP also alleged that Kenyans have since piled pressure on him to be the candidate to oust President Ruto from office in the 2027 elections. 

“Well, the Kenyan people have put a lot of pressure on me because they are looking for somebody who is truthful, somebody who has integrity. And Kenyans, a big percentage, are Christians. They want somebody who is a true believer in the teachings of Jesus Christ and somebody who practices what he says in Kenya," he noted. 

He added that his candidacy comes at an opportune time, labelling himself the last line of defence against what he termed as an 'oppressive regime.'

Despite the rising political temperatures in the lead-up to the elections, Gachagua noted the importance of constitutional order and peaceful transition of power.

“Kenya is a democracy, it's a constitutional democracy. And we have elections every five years. Much as we are struggling, we don't want change through any other method. We want to wait for the elections on the 10th of August 2027. Kenyans will wake up early, go to the ballot and elect leaders who can take care of their country," he said.