Kenya’s Senate removes Gachagua in a historic impeachment vote as President Ruto swiftly nominates Kithure Kindiki as the new deputy president.
18th August 2024
Digital Worldwide News
Kenya's deputy president Rigathi Gachagua has been impeached
In a dramatic and unprecedented move, Kenya's Senate voted to remove Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua from office on Thursday, October 17, 2024, following a contentious impeachment process. The decision has sent shockwaves through the nation, marking the first time a sitting deputy president has been ousted in such a manner under the revised 2010 constitution.
Gachagua, who had been hospitalized hours before his testimony in the Senate, now faces an uncertain future as Kenya navigates the aftermath of this landmark political event.
The Senate's decision came after an intense session where Gachagua, known affectionately as "Riggy G," was found guilty on five of the 11 charges levied against him, including gross violations of the constitution. The charges he faced included accusations of threatening judges, engaging in ethnically divisive politics, and undermining national unity. However, he was cleared of other accusations such as corruption and money laundering.
The impeachment motion was first passed by the National Assembly the previous week, where an overwhelming 282 members out of 349 voted in favor of Gachagua's removal. But unlike the lower house, where the entire motion was considered, senators only needed to approve one of the 11 charges with a two-thirds majority to finalize his ousting.
Gachagua’s impeachment saga took an unexpected turn when he was hospitalized on the same day he was scheduled to testify in his defense. The 59-year-old deputy president was rushed to Karen Hospital after complaining of severe chest pains, prompting concerns about his health. Karen Hospital’s chief cardiologist, Dr. Dan Gikonyo, later confirmed that Gachagua was in a stable condition but would remain under observation for the next 48 to 72 hours.
Despite his hospitalization, the Senate decided not to delay the impeachment process, leading Gachagua’s legal team to walk out in protest. His lawyers argued that Gachagua had a constitutional right to be present and testify in his defense. The Senate, however, pressed on with the vote, resulting in Gachagua’s removal.
Following the Senate's historic vote, Speaker Amason Kingi formally declared that Gachagua was no longer the deputy president of Kenya. "The Senate has resolved to remove from office, by impeachment, His Excellency Rigathi Gachagua, the Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya," Kingi announced. "Accordingly, His Excellency Rigathi Gachagua ceases to hold office."
This decision has created a wave of uncertainty, particularly given Gachagua's close ties to President William Ruto. Just two years ago, Gachagua was instrumental in securing Ruto’s electoral victory by rallying the vote-rich Mount Kenya region. But cracks had emerged in their relationship over recent months, with Gachagua accusing Ruto of sidelining him from key government decisions.
Hours after the Senate’s decision, President William Ruto swiftly nominated Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki to replace Gachagua. The nomination, announced by Parliament Speaker Moses Wetang'ula, marks a critical step in the transition of power, though Parliament will need to vote on Kindiki's appointment within 60 days.
In his announcement, Speaker Wetang'ula told Parliament, "I have received a message from the President regarding the nomination of Professor Kithure Kindiki to fill the vacancy which has occurred in the office of the Deputy President."
The nomination of Kindiki, a long-serving Interior Minister and seasoned politician, has been met with mixed reactions, with some seeing it as a stabilizing move amid growing political tensions.
Despite his removal, Gachagua has remained defiant, labeling the impeachment process as a "political witch hunt" orchestrated by his political rivals. He had consistently denied the charges against him, calling them "outrageous" and "nonsensical." In a fiery statement made before his hospitalization, Gachagua declared, "This is what we call political deceit, conmanship, and betrayal."
While no criminal proceedings have been initiated against him, Gachagua’s legal team has hinted at the possibility of challenging the impeachment in court. If he decides to pursue this course of action, the case could drag on for months, further prolonging Kenya’s political turmoil.
The removal of Gachagua has left Kenya deeply divided. Political tensions have been simmering for months, exacerbated by youth-led protests earlier in the year over unpopular tax hikes and the government’s handling of the economy. These demonstrations, which sometimes turned violent, laid bare the divisions within the ruling party and Kenya's political elite.
Gachagua, a powerful businessman and influential figure in Kenya’s Kikuyu tribe, had weathered corruption scandals in the past, but his downfall signals a shift in Kenya’s political landscape. Many of his supporters have expressed outrage over his impeachment, while others view it as a necessary step towards holding powerful politicians accountable.