In a historic and unprecedented move, the National Assembly has voted to impeach Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
The motion, spearheaded by Kibwezi East MP Mwengi Mutuse, garnered overwhelming support, with 281 Members of Parliament voting in favor, surpassing the required threshold of 233 votes. The outcome marks the first time in Kenya’s history that a sitting Deputy President has been impeached.
The impeachment process has been rife with tension, with Gachagua facing 11 charges, including allegations of corruption, abuse of office, and undermining the constitution. The petition accused him of using his office for personal gain, with particular focus on his business dealings, which critics argue compromised his ability to effectively serve the public.
In a heated debate that lasted hours, proponents of the impeachment argued that Gachagua’s actions have destabilized the country’s leadership, undermining both governance and trust in public institutions. On the other hand, his defenders, including MPs from his home region of Mt. Kenya, insisted that the charges were politically motivated and orchestrated to remove him from power due to factional battles within the ruling coalition.
Gachagua’s impeachment comes after weeks of public scrutiny and a series of legal challenges that aimed to stop the proceedings. Notably, 19 cases had been filed in an attempt to block the impeachment motion, with appeals made to the Judiciary for consolidation. Despite these efforts, the impeachment process moved forward, culminating in today’s vote.
In response to the impeachment, Deputy President Gachagua held a press briefing earlier today at his Karen residence, where he staunchly denied the allegations, stating that the charges were part of a political witch-hunt to weaken his influence within the government. He accused his opponents of using state institutions to silence him and defended his family, claiming they were being unfairly targeted.
The impeachment motion has left Kenya’s political scene on edge, with many now speculating about the possible replacement for the Deputy President’s position. Former Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri has suggested that for peace to prevail, the next Deputy President should come from outside the Mt. Kenya region, a proposal that has sparked mixed reactions.
As the country awaits further developments, public participation forums across all 47 counties have been scheduled to gauge the nation’s mood. This landmark event is set to trigger a series of legal and political processes, including potential appeals to the Judiciary.
