Kenya’s Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has been impeached by the Senate after a two-day hearing, making him the first deputy president in Kenya’s history to be removed from office through impeachment.
The Senate voted to uphold at least five charges against Gachagua, including:
- Inappropriate shareholding
- Undermining judicial independence
- Violating the National Cohesion and Integrity Act
- Committing crimes under the National Cohesion Act
- Gross misconduct (specifically, public attacks on the National Intelligence Service)
The impeachment process began when Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse tabled the motion in the National Assembly. The vote resulted in 281 MPs supporting the impeachment, 44 opposing it, and one abstention.
Mutuse presented 11 charges, which included constitutional violations, undermining the President and devolution, irregular wealth acquisition, publicly criticizing a judge, intimidating the acting Kemsa CEO, promoting ethnic divisions, and insubordination to the President.
Before the final Senate vote, Gachagua’s legal team withdrew in protest after senators refused to extend the process to Saturday. Lead lawyer Paul Muite claimed that Gachagua had fallen ill and was admitted to Karen Hospital with severe chest pains, preventing his appearance at the Senate.
The impeachment marks a significant moment in Kenya’s political history and raises questions about the future of the country’s executive leadership.