Impeached DP Rigathi Gachagua was unable to attend to his impeachment fully at the senate after he developed chest pains moments before he was supposed to to be cross examined on October 17.
Gachagua was conspicuously missing in the afternoon session, leaving his lawyers and the senate in a limbo. His lawyer Paul Muite later informed the senate that he had been rushed to Karen Hospital, where he was admitted for three days.
It has now emerged that Gachagua was diagnosed Taktsubo cardiomyopathy, according to his doctor. The condition is also known stress cardiomyopathy or broken heart syndrome. The condition weakens the left ventricle, which is the heart’s main pumping chamber.
The condition occurs when the lower part of the left ventricle inflate with each heartbeat, thus making the ventricle to look like a Japanese octopus trap known as tako-tsubo.
According to the National Institute of Health the condition is triggered by intense emotional or physical stress.
After his discharge from Karen Hospital, Gachagua revealed that he has been facing intense oppression from the government for the past one year, and even had two attempts on his life by NIS officials.
“I did not know that President William Ruto could be that vicious. I am shocked at how vicious a man I helped to be President, a man that I believed in and was persecuted while supporting, could be so vicious against me when I am literally fighting for my life in the hospital. How cruel can a man be?” he said following the Senate’s move to proceed with his impeachment in his absence and the move to withdraw his security.
“I am the only man in Cabinet who can stand against the President. Nobody else can tell him off,” he said.