Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua faces a pivotal week as his impeachment trial begins in the Senate on Wednesday, following last Tuesday’s National Assembly vote in favor of his removal.
The impeachment motion, brought forward by Kibwezi West MP Mwenge Mutuse, accuses Gachagua of 11 charges, which he has vehemently denied.
The National Assembly overwhelmingly voted to impeach the DP, with 281 MPs supporting the motion against 44 who opposed it.
The focus now shifts to the Senate, where the real trial begins. The 67-member Senate will listen to both sides before taking a final vote on Thursday evening. Gachagua needs the support of at least 23 senators to remain in office, but if 45 senators vote to uphold even one charge, the Deputy President will be removed from office.
Losing the Senate vote would not only end Gachagua’s tenure as Deputy President but also permanently bar him from holding any public office, marking a dramatic halt to his political career.
The DP has already signaled his intention to pursue a legal battle if the impeachment is upheld.
Given last week’s overwhelming vote in the National Assembly, Gachagua’s chances in the Senate appear slim. President William Ruto, who is closely aligned with opposition leader Raila Odinga, controls a significant portion of the Senate, leaving Gachagua politically exposed.
Ruto has not publicly stated his position on the impeachment, but many of his key allies are leading the push against the DP.
Despite the gravity of the situation, Gachagua remains defiant. Speaking during a church service in Embu on Sunday, he expressed faith in the judiciary, claiming the “will of the people cannot be overturned by a few representatives.” He added, “I believe in the independence of the judiciary. The courts will exercise their authority and protect the Constitution.”
The trial will kick off with Mutuse and representatives from the National Assembly presenting their case against Gachagua.
They will call witnesses, including Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, Cabinet Secretary Mercy Wanjau, and former Kemsa CEO Andrew Mulwa, to testify.
The Assembly’s legal team, led by Paul Nyamodi, will have the full day on Wednesday to present their case, followed by cross-examination by Gachagua’s legal team.
On Thursday, Gachagua and his defense team will present their case, calling witnesses and submitting affidavits in an effort to discredit the charges. The Senate will then have the opportunity to question both sides before the final vote.
If the process is not concluded on Thursday, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi has indicated that Friday could be set aside for further deliberations.
The impeachment process was initiated on October 1, with 291 MPs signing the motion, far surpassing the required threshold of 117.
Gachagua, who played a key role in helping President Ruto secure votes from the Mt. Kenya region during the 2022 election, defended himself before the National Assembly last week, insisting he had done nothing wrong.
Now, with his political future on the line, Gachagua prepares for a battle that will determine whether he stays in office or exits Kenya’s political stage for good.
