Kenya’s Senate is set to vote on the impeachment of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, following the conclusion of his trial.
Gachagua, who faces 11 charges, including corruption, incitement of ethnic divisions, and undermining the government, is defending himself before lawmakers in the upper house of parliament.
A two-thirds majority vote is required to remove him from office.
The impeachment process began in the National Assembly, where a majority of MPs approved the motion last week, escalating tensions between Gachagua and President William Ruto, with whom he was elected in 2022.
The fallout between the two
leaders reached a climax in June when Gachagua publicly criticized the head of Kenya’s intelligence agency for failing to adequately inform the president about mass protests over unpopular tax hikes.
The criticism came shortly after Ruto was forced to retract the taxes, a significant blow to his authority.
During the Senate trial, Mwengi Mutuse, the lawmaker who introduced the impeachment motion, outlined the accusations, describing Gachagua’s actions as extraordinary violations of the constitution. Among the charges was Gachagua’s controversial statement likening the government to a “shareholding company,” implying that only those who voted for the administration would benefit from its services.
Mutuse also accused
Gachagua of accumulating wealth through corrupt dealings, alleging that the deputy president acquired assets worth 5.2 billion Kenyan shillings ($40 million) since taking office.
Gachagua has denied all charges, stating that the properties in question were inherited from his late brother’s estate. His legal team has dismissed the allegations as false and absurd. The trial, which stretched late into Wednesday night, continues on Thursday with Gachagua expected to personally defend himself for most of the day.
At the end of the proceedings, senators will debate the motion for two hours before casting their votes. If Gachagua is impeached, he is expected to challenge the decision, while speculation grows over who might succeed him, with two governors and two ministers already being considered for the role.
The outcome of the vote has gripped the nation, with many expecting a strong opposition vote in support of the impeachment, mirroring the National Assembly’s stance.
