BY TRACY KAVAI, nyaberakavai@gmail.com
Nairobi, October 8,2024- In a historic turn of events, Kenya’s Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua was impeached by the National Assembly on October 8, 2024, marking the first such impeachment under the 2010 Constitution.
The motion, which garnered overwhelming support, saw 281 members of Parliament vote in favor of his removal, a number far exceeding the required 233 threshold, while 44 MPs opposed the decision.
Gachagua was charged with 11 offenses, including corruption, gross misconduct, and violation of the Constitution. The charges also extended to accusations of undermining the office of the President. These allegations were backed by a public participation exercise that had over 116,000 respondents supporting his impeachment, compared to just over 69,000 who opposed it.
Kibwezi MP Mutuse Mwengi, who spearheaded the motion, delivered a damning breakdown of all 11 charges. His emotional closing remarks appealed to fellow legislators, urging them to act in the interest of justice. While Mutuse’s motion received substantial support, Gachagua was defended by notable allies, including Kirinyaga Woman Representative Jane Njeri Maina and Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba.
Appearing before Parliament at 5:17 p.m., Gachagua defended himself against the charges. He refuted claims regarding the ownership of properties such as Olive Gardens Hotel and Vipingo Beach Resort, asserting that they belonged to his late brother, former Nyeri Governor Nderitu Gachagua. “Like any other Kenyan, the constitution gives me the presumption of innocence in relation to criminal offences until proven otherwise in a court of law,” Gachagua emphasized during his defense.
On the day preceding the vote, Gachagua addressed the nation in a televised press conference, focusing on the KSh 5.2 billion he was accused of amassing. He explained that a significant portion of the assets were inherited from his late brother, for whom he served as the executor of the will. “Today, as I defend myself, I apologize to my late brother for having to share his private will. The properties he worked so tirelessly for… are now being labelled as proceeds of corruption,” he lamented.
The National Assembly Speaker is set to notify the Senate within two days. The Senate will then have 10 days to either confirm or overturn the impeachment, determining Gachagua’s political fate.