A Kenyan court has paved the way for the impeachment of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, ruling that the proceedings against him are constitutional. This decision clears the path for the Senate to hold hearings and vote on his dismissal later this week.
The National Assembly, Kenya’s lower house of parliament, voted to impeach Gachagua last week, citing eleven charges against him. These charges include allegations of corruption, undermining the government, and inciting ethnic hatred. Gachagua has vehemently denied all accusations, calling the impeachment motion a politically motivated attack orchestrated by opposition lawmakers and allies of President William Ruto.
Gachagua claims that the impeachment is based on false allegations and constitutes a political “lynching,” as stated in court documents seen by Reuters. He challenged the impeachment process in the High Court, but Judge Erick Ogolla ruled in favor of the process, stating that it adheres to the Kenyan constitution.
The judge emphasized that the Senate trial will provide Gachagua with an opportunity to address the charges against him. “At this stage, the process is a lawful, constitutional process, and the Senate will conduct a trial where all the issues being raised before the court will be raised and determined at the moment,” Judge Ogolla declared in court.
Gachagua served as Ruto’s running mate in the 2022 presidential election, playing a crucial role in securing votes from the populous central Kenya region. However, their political alliance has since fractured, and Ruto has made significant changes to his cabinet, appointing members of the opposition in a bid to create a “unity government.” This move came in the aftermath of nationwide protests against tax increases that resulted in the deaths of over 50 people.
The Senate is scheduled to hold hearings on Gachagua’s case on Wednesday, followed by a vote on Thursday. A two-thirds majority vote is required for Gachagua’s dismissal from office. The outcome of these proceedings will have significant implications for Kenyan politics and the power dynamics between the president and the deputy president.