The Kenyan Senate has voted to impeach Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, making him the first in the country’s history to be removed from office.
Lawmakers proceeded with the vote on Thursday evening, despite a request from Gachagua’s lawyer, Paul Muite, to postpone the session due to Gachagua’s sudden hospitalization.
Muite informed the Senate that Gachagua had fallen seriously ill just hours before the vote, but Senate Speaker Amason Kingi held firm, stating that the Deputy President had until 5 p.m. local time to appear. Gachagua’s absence due to his health ultimately did not delay the proceedings, and the Senate moved forward with the impeachment.
The 59-year-old Deputy President faced 11 charges, with the Senate upholding five, including allegations related to shareholding, undermining the independence of judges, violating the National Cohesion and Integrity Act, crimes under the National Cohesion Act, and gross misconduct. The latter included public attacks on the National Security Intelligence Service, for which Gachagua blamed the agency’s head for failing to adequately brief President William Ruto on mass protests following unpopular tax hikes in June.
A total of 281 MPs voted in favor of the motion, with 44 opposing and one abstention. “Deputy President Gachagua ceases to hold office,” declared Speaker Kingi following the vote.
Gachagua, who has labeled the proceedings a “political witch hunt,” has yet to formally challenge the outcome but is expected to defend himself further.
Should he not appeal, President Ruto will have the authority to nominate a replacement, though he has not publicly commented on the matter.
