By Hereward Holland and Ammu Kannampilly NAIROBI (Reuters) -Allies of Kenyan President William Ruto launched a motion in parliament on Tuesday to impeach Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, accusing him of stirring ethnic hatred and undermining the government.

Kenya's Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has been threatened with impeachment proceedings by lawmakers amid intense speculation that he has had a major fallout with President William Ruto.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has sent a strong message to President William Ruto with a vow not to resign over plans by a faction of Kenya Kwanza politicians to impeach him. Speaking on Saturday in Ngurubani town, Kirinyaga County, the Deputy President, for the umpteenth time, appealed to the President to allow him to do his job.

Kenya's parliament on Tuesday tabled a motion to impeach Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua for gross violation of the constitution, the speaker said, as local media reported that he had fallen out with President William Ruto.

A rift between Ruto and Gachagua has spilt into the open in recent days, with Gachagua saying he has been sidelined while denying accusations linking him and associates to violent

Members of parliament in Kenya have started the process of removing the country's deputy president from office. Those who back the effort accuse Rigathi Gachagua of having a role in June's violent anti-government demonstrations,

Kenya’s National Assembly will on Tuesday receive an impeachment motion against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, a process that could potentially destabilize the East African economy barely recovered from months of anti-government protests.