Kenya‘s Senate commenced discussions on Wednesday regarding the impeachment of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, following the politician’s unsuccessful attempt to halt the proceedings through the courts.
In a significant development last week, the National Assembly, the lower chamber of parliament, cast a decisive vote to impeach Gachagua on 11 counts, which include allegations of corruption and abuse of office.
Naijaonpoint understand that the 59-year-old politician has refuted all charges and will remain in his position until the Senate reaches a conclusion on his potential removal.
Although the upper house convened last week, the debate on the impeachment motion began on Wednesday, initially conducted in a closed session.
A verdict is anticipated on Thursday, October 17.
Should the Senate approve the motion, Gachagua would be the first deputy president in Kenya to be ousted from office through impeachment since the enactment of the revised 2010 constitution.
Gachagua, a prominent businessman from the Kikuyu community, previously navigated through various corruption controversies to secure the role of deputy leader alongside President William Ruto in the tightly contested election of August 2022.
However, in recent weeks, he has expressed feelings of being marginalized by the president and has faced accusations of endorsing youth-led anti-government demonstrations that emerged in June.
It is worth noting that there have been political tensions in the region following the outbreak of sometimes lethal protests against unpopular tax increases, revealing deep-seated divisions within the highest levels of authority.
Gachagua, who faces allegations of threatening a judge, among other impeachment-related charges, had placed his trust in the judiciary.
His legal representatives contended that the impeachment proceedings were conducted unjustly and expedited; however, on Tuesday, a Kenyan High Court denied a request to suspend the Senate session scheduled for Wednesday.
Additionally, a ruling from a different High Court on Wednesday also rejected suspending the entire impeachment process, thereby allowing the Senate debate to proceed.
While Ruto has refrained from making any public statements regarding the impeachment, Gachagua acknowledged that the process could not advance without the president’s endorsement.