Julius Kiprop
- Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has become the first in Kenya’s history to be impeached.
- The impeachment was upheld by the Senate after a two-day hearing on 11 charges against him.
- Gachagua’s legal team walked out in protest, but the Senate proceeded with the vote.
In an unprecedented move, the Senate has upheld the impeachment of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, marking the first time a Kenyan deputy president has been removed from office through impeachment. The Senate’s decision followed a two-day hearing on multiple charges brought against him.
The impeachment motion was first introduced by Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse in the National Assembly, citing 11 serious charges. These included gross violations of the constitution, undermining President William Ruto, irregular acquisition of wealth, promoting ethnicity, and insubordination. The motion passed in the National Assembly with overwhelming support 281 MPs voted in favor, while 44 opposed it.
As the case moved to the Senate, tensions rose when Gachagua’s legal team, led by Senior Counsel Paul Muite, walked out after the Senate denied their request to extend the hearing. This request followed Gachagua’s failure to attend the afternoon session, with reports stating that he had been admitted to Karen Hospital with severe chest pains.
Despite his absence and his team’s protest, the Senate proceeded with the vote. In a historic decision, the Senate upheld the impeachment, bringing Gachagua’s political career to an abrupt end. This outcome has significant implications for Kenya’s leadership structure and the political dynamics moving forward.
Rigathi Gachagua’s impeachment marks a turning point in Kenya’s political history, as the nation grapples with the removal of its deputy president. This landmark decision will undoubtedly shape future leadership in the country and is set to influence the political landscape in profound ways.
