On October 7, 2024, Kenya’s Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua addressed the press at his Karen residence in Nairobi, speaking before lawmakers cast their votes concerning his impeachment motion. The photo credit goes to REUTERS/Monicah Mwangi/File Photo, and remember: Purchase Licensing Rights if you need to reuse it.
In a political bombshell, Kenya’s senate has booted Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua from his office. They impeached him on five of eleven charges set against him this Thursday. This startling decision threatens to shove the nation into political turmoil.
Last week, the National Assembly gave Gachagua the boot. He was pivotal in helping President William Ruto clinch victory in the elections two years back. However, some of Ruto’s comrades have accused him of betrayal, pointing fingers at his fiery public remarks.
An overwhelming fifty-four out of sixty-seven senators voted Gachagua out, citing “gross violation of the constitution.” This exceeds the two-thirds majority needed. He’s now become the first among Kenyan presidents or deputy presidents to be ousted through impeachment.
“His Excellency Rigathi Gachagua… is hereby relieved of his duties,” stated Senate Speaker Amason Kingi.
But don’t expect this saga to end here. Gachagua has tossed several petitions into the ring, challenging his removal. The chief justice stepped in, appointing a trio of judges to inspect these grievances.
Though Gachagua denies the accusations, he was intended to counter them in front of the Senate on Thursday afternoon.
Yet his sudden absence came with grim news. His legal eagle, Paul Muite, revealed that intense chest pain landed Gachagua in the hospital, pleading with the Senate for a hiatus in proceedings.
The senate, however, dismissed this plea, prompting Gachagua’s defense squad to march out in defiance.
Dr. Dan Gikonyo, attending to Gachagua, informed the press that the deputy president was battling heart complications. Thankfully, he’s stable but might need to park himself in the hospital for the next one to three days.
A section of senators questioned the wisdom of continuing without Gachagua present. Senator John Methu asked, “Are we to try a hospital-bound man just because his political offense demands he be ousted, no matter the cost?”
In contrast, Senator Moses Otieno Kajwang backed the impeachment, stating, “We must rid ourselves of this cesspool.”
WHAT’S NEXT FOR RUTO?
This has stirred silent tensions between Ruto and Gachagua. Ruto hasn’t spoken about this drama, but analysts reckon he might face some blowback after Gachagua’s falling.
Many see this impeachment as maneuvered by political interests, drawing eyes away from the deadly anti-tax protests of June and July. These protests bared deep-seated frustrations over government antics and alleged corruption.
The scrutiny of Gachagua’s wealth might just boomerang on Ruto, according to Karuti Kanyinga from the University of Nairobi’s Institute for Development Studies. “The same scathing review Gachagua faced might soon have callers asking the same of our President,” Kanyinga noted.
Gachagua calls the impeachment a sham, a political witch-hunt spun from false tales. On Wednesday, he was set to counter a barrage of claims from lawmaker Mwengi Mutuse, who charged Gachagua with stirring ethnic discord.
Mutuse also accused him of amassing over $40 million since becoming deputy president, despite entering office with a declared net worth of a mere $6 million.
Elisha Ongoya, a maestro from Gachagua’s legal squad, rebuffed these claims as unfounded and floating on thin air.
Reporters Hereward Holland, Ammu Kannampilly, George Obulutsa, and Sonia Rao contributed to this chronicle. Edits flowed from Christina Fincher, Ammu Kannampilly, Bernadette Baum, Bill Berkrot, and Marguerita Choy.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
