With former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua now demanding that all his benefits from his time in office be paid in full, former Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri has come out to recall how he once advised Gachagua to resign before facing impeachment.

According to Ngunjiri, resignation was the only route that could have secured Gachagua’s full benefits and privileges.

At the time, Gachagua agreed to the proposal but later changed his mind.

While speaking on a popular podcast on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, Ngunjiri expressed his disappointment over the turn of events.

He revealed that before the impeachment process, he had a conversation with Gachagua and advised him to step down voluntarily.

He reasoned that by resigning, Gachagua could still be paid for the remaining period of his term, retain state security, and continue with his political engagements outside the office. Ngunjiri added that Gachagua agreed with the idea initially.

“Gachagua, what is he saying after the court ruling? He wants to be paid all his benefits for 5 years and security and everything. What is that signal? I had it with him before impeachment. I told him, ‘Why can’t you agree to resign? You might be paid for your remaining period, and you will be given security and everything. Then you go start doing the politics. Then you can come with the community and party, you are saying, and then negotiate at the table, and he agreed,” Ngunjiri stated.

However, he went on to say that certain individuals who were his close allies came and discouraged Gachagua from resigning, urging him to stay put and assuring him that he was strong enough to face the process.

Gachagua then proceeded to face Parliament and the Senate, which later sealed his fate, rejecting the initial plan.

“But there were some people who came and advised him and told him, ‘No, you are strong; just go. Then he went to parliament; he went to the Senate until now, where he is saying, ‘Can I be paid?,” Ngunjiri added.

Ngunjiri further went ahead to slam the former DP, wondering how shameful the DP could be to demand benefits while he was impeached, since, as per the law, any impeached person is not viable to receive benefits.

He also argued that if Gachagua had stuck to the original plan, he could be enjoying the benefits he is currently demanding through the court.