Kenyan Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua Impeached by 281 MPs
In a historic move, 281 Kenyan MPs voted to impeach Rigathi Gachagua, the country’s Deputy President, on Tuesday night. This marks a significant development in Kenyan politics, with 44 MPs voting against the motion and one MP abstaining. The scenes of jubilation that followed the announcement of the results of the impeachment motion highlighted the gravity of the situation.
Gachagua has been accused of supporting historic anti-government protests in June and being involved in corruption and other irregularities. In a televised address and during a parliamentary session, he defended himself against these allegations. However, his attempts to clear his name were unsuccessful, as the National Assembly voted overwhelmingly to remove him from office.
Article 145 2A of the Kenyan Constitution provides that if a motion under clause 1 is supported by at least two-thirds of the National Assembly, the speaker shall inform the speaker of the Senate within two days. If the Senate also backs the motion, Gachagua would become the first deputy president to be impeached since the new constitution was adopted in 2010.
The Constitution allows for the removal of the Deputy President under two scenarios: physical or mental incapacity to perform the functions of the office, or impeachment. Impeachment can occur on three grounds: a gross violation of a provision of the Constitution or any other law, serious reasons to believe the Deputy President has committed a crime under national or international law, or gross misconduct.
Gachagua has defended his wealth acquisition, claiming that some of the properties listed in the impeachment motion belonged to his late brother. He also defended renovation expenditures for his official residence, stating that it was in a state of disrepair and needed to be “dignified.”
The fallout between Gachagua and President William Ruto has been speculated upon for months, and this move has finally laid bare the dissension between the two men. The outcome of this impeachment motion has significant implications for Kenyan politics and the country’s future.
