Today marks a pivotal moment in Kenya’s political landscape as Members of Parliament (MPs) prepare to vote on the impeachment of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
The outcome of this vote could initiate the next stage of the process, leading to the Senate, where Gachagua’s fate will ultimately be determined.
At least 233 MPs, representing two-thirds of the National Assembly, are required to vote in favor of the impeachment motion for it to progress to the Senate.
Should this threshold be met, the Senate will act as the trial chamber, holding the key to the Deputy President’s future in office.
The impeachment motion against Gachagua is grounded in accusations of gross violation of the constitution, abuse of office, and gross misconduct.
If successful, the Deputy President faces severe consequences, including being permanently barred from holding public office, losing his retirement perks, and effectively ending his political career.
“The Senate, being the trial chamber, will sit as a quasi-judicial body to hear and determine the matter,” said Senate Speaker Amason Kingi during interview with the media, emphasizing the gravity of the process.
The House’s decision is expected to set the tone for the coming weeks, as the nation watches closely to see whether Gachagua will continue serving as Kenya’s second-in-command or if his time in office will come to an abrupt end.
The timing of this impeachment process is significant, coinciding with a separate impeachment motion against Kericho Governor Erick Mutai, who was removed from office by Kericho MCAs just two years into his tenure.
Speaker Kingi has notified lawmakers of Mutai’s impeachment, marking the 13th gubernatorial impeachment case since devolution in 2013.
The rigorous nature of impeachment hearings requires lawmakers to scrutinize vast amounts of evidence and sit through lengthy sessions.
Kingi warned senators against making public comments on Gachagua’s case, emphasizing the importance of impartiality in the proceedings.
Should the impeachment motion pass in the National Assembly, the Senate will have the final say. According to Article 144 (2) of the Constitution, the Senate would also require a two-thirds majority vote to uphold the impeachment.
This means Gachagua’s allies will have to engage in intense lobbying to block the motion and prevent it from reaching the required threshold.
While political observers predict that the vote will follow party lines, the numbers in the Senate appear to be evenly balanced. Out of the 67 senators, 42 are aligned with the ruling Kenya Kwanza Alliance (KK), while 25 are associated with the Azimio la Umoja coalition.
However, internal dynamics within the ruling coalition, particularly from Mt Kenya representatives, have complicated the scenario, as some KK senators have expressed opposition to Gachagua’s impeachment.
In the event that the motion proceeds to the Senate, the trial could take place in either the plenary, where all senators would participate, or through a special 11-member committee tasked with investigating the charges.
Senators are pushing for the case to be handled in the plenary, with Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei stating, “This is unprecedented.
The Deputy President is not a governor. He was elected by all Kenyans and therefore all senators should be allowed to participate in this motion.”
If the Senate upholds the impeachment, President William Ruto would be tasked with nominating a replacement for Gachagua within 14 days.
Parliament would then have 60 days to vote on the President’s nominee.
The coming days will determine whether Gachagua survives this political storm or if the nation will witness the first-ever impeachment of a Deputy President.
All eyes are now on Parliament, as it takes this historic vote that could reshape Kenya’s political future.
