Kenya’s High Court Dismisses Effort to Halt Impeachment Discussions Against Deputy President
In a twist on Tuesday, Kenya’s High Court gave a thumbs down to a petition from the deputy president’s legal team. They tried to halt a senate discussion on his impeachment, after parliament gave the boot vote last week.
Justice Chacha Mwita declared that parliament can rock on with its duties, saying the court ain’t gonna meddle.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s impeachment was green-lit by a whopping 281-44 in parliament and now it’s on its way to the senate, primed for hearings starting Wednesday. Allegations are flying, including claims of corruption and back-pocket deals, plus whispers of his backing anti-government hullabaloo in June. He’s calling out, “Not guilty!”
According to Kenya’s rules, if both houses nod in agreement, he’s outta there, though Gachagua has vowed to battle it out in court.
On Monday, the chief justice set the stage with a three-judge crew to scope out six suits lodged against this impeachment jazz.
The tussle over Gachagua’s destiny isn’t just within the walls of politics—rumblings have spilled into public arenas, with high emotions igniting in last week’s gatherings after the ruling squad pushed the motion through parliament.
President William Ruto has stayed mum regarding the impeachment. Yet, he once hinted in his presidency’s early days about sparing his deputy from public shame, reflecting on his rocky rapport with ex-president Uhuru Kenyatta in their later tenure.
The senate’s gonna need a two-thirds crew to back this motion. Should they seal the deal, it’ll mark Kenya’s first-ever booting of a sitting deputy president.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
