Kenya’s Senate is set to hold a crucial debate next week regarding the impeachment of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. This announcement came on Wednesday from Senate Speaker Amason Kingi after the National Assembly voted overwhelmingly in favor of the impeachment.
On Tuesday night, lawmakers cast their votes, resulting in a significant majority of 281 in favor of the motion, while only 44 voted against it. One member abstained from the vote, surpassing the two-thirds majority required to move the impeachment to the Senate.
Speaker Kingi stated that the Senate would conduct an investigation into the allegations against Gachagua on Wednesday and Thursday of next week. If two-thirds of the Senate support the impeachment, Gachagua will be dismissed from office.
Deputy President Gachagua has vehemently denied all 11 charges against him, which include accusations of self-enrichment and inciting ethnic hatred. He criticized the impeachment process, describing it as a “theatre of the absurd.”
Tensions between Gachagua and President William Ruto, whom he supported during the 2022 elections, have become evident following protests this year. These protests were sparked by proposed tax increases and rising living costs, leading to a public outcry.
So far, President Ruto has remained silent on the ongoing impeachment proceedings. Gachagua’s recent comments comparing the government to a business have also angered members of Ruto’s coalition.