In the heart of Nairobi, Kenya’s Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua spoke to lawmakers before they voted on his impeachment at the Parliament buildings on October 8, 2024. Photo by REUTERS/Monicah Mwangi/File.
On Friday, Kenya’s high court decided that the impeachment case against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua should go to the Chief Justice for further examination.
The vote came in on Tuesday, with parliament deciding to impeach Gachagua on 11 charges. These included accusations of personal enrichment and inciting ethnic divisions. Gachagua laughed off the allegations, calling the situation ludicrous.
Next week, the Senate is set to deliberate on these charges and they will cast a vote to determine Gachagua’s fate.
In court documents viewed by Reuters, Gachagua described the impeachment push as a “planned political witch hunt,” filled with lies.
Justice Lawrence Mugambi urged the Chief Justice to establish a trio of judges to review Gachagua’s plea, stressing the significant public intrigue in the matter.
The friction between Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and President William Ruto, who he supported during the 2022 election, has become public following violent protests against proposed tax hikes and escalating living costs.
Gachagua sparked controversy within Ruto’s coalition by suggesting the government operated like a company and asserting that those who backed the coalition should receive preference for public-sector roles and development schemes.
The impeachment motion highlighted these statements, labeling them as “extremely provocative.”
President Ruto has remained silent on the subject of his deputy’s impeachment.
This impeachment effort has created a divide among Kenyans. Some believe parliament’s priority should be the economy, while others clamor for the resignation of both Ruto and Gachagua.
Contributions by Hereward Holland; Edited by Toby Chopra, Timothy Heritage, Ammu Kannampilly, and Sharon Singleton.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
