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| Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua (left) and The Senate in session (right). |
Rigathi Gachagua has become the first deputy president to be impeached under the 2010 Constitution. Rigathi Gachagua impeached In a contentious late-night voting session at the Senate on Thursday, October 17, senators voted to approve the impeachment motion by the National Assembly. Senators voted to find Gachagua guilty of five out of the 11 charges contained in the impeachment motion brought by the National Assembly. Speaker Amason Kingi announced that Gachagua ceases to hold office after two-thirds of the senators in accordance with article 145 (7), and Standing Order 78 (8) of the Senate upheld the charges. “Pursuant to Article 145(7) and 151(b)(ii) of the Constitution and Standing Order No. 78 (8) of the Senate, the Senate has resolved to remove from office by impeachment Hon. Rigathi Gachagua, the Deputy President of Kenya.
Accordingly, Hon. Rigathi Gachagua ceases to hold office,” Kingi announced. How Senators voted on the charges against Gachagua In the first charge, Gachagua where was accused of gross violation of Articles 10 (2) (A), (B) and (C); 27 (4), 73 (1) (A) and (2) (B); 75 (1) (C), and 129 (2) of the Constitution AND Article 147 (1), as read with article 131 (2) (C) AND (D) of Constitution, at least 54 senators voted in favour. In-ground four, regarding gross violation of Article 160 (1) of the Constitution on the Institutional and Decisional Independence of judges, 51 voted yes, while 16 voted no.
In ground five, about the gross violation of Articles 3 (1) and 148 (5)(a) of the Constitution on the fidelity to the Oath of Office and allegiance, 49 senators voted yes, 16 voted no, while two senators abstained. On ground six, regarding serious reasons to believe that the deputy president committed crimes under sections 13 (1)(a) and 62 of the National Cohesion and Integration Act, 48 senators voted yes, 18 voted against while one senator abstained. And on ground nine, gross misconduct that is incompatible with the high calling and dignified status of the Office of the Deputy President and a member of the Cabinet and the National Security Council. H. E., the Deputy President, publicly attacked and undermined the work of the National Security Intelligence Service and its Officers: 46 voted yes, with 20 voting against while one senator abstained. Gachagua has become the first deputy president to be removed in this way since the possibility was introduced in Kenya’s revised 2010 constitution.
by Amos Khaemba
