Nairobi, Kenya | By Michael Wandati | Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has made history as the first Deputy President in Kenya to be impeached.
The 59-year-old leader, widely known by his nickname “Riggy G,” was found guilty by the Senate, which upheld several of the charges leveled against him.
The Senate approved 5 of the 11 counts; 1, 4, 5, 6 and 9 against the Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
Gachagua had initially denied all allegations when the impeachment proceedings began on Wednesday.
However, he fell ill during the second day of the trial, and his legal team’s request to postpone the process was rejected. Following this decision, Gachagua’s lawyers withdrew from the trial.
The deputy president faced multiple accusations, including corruption, fostering ethnic divisions, and undermining President William Ruto’s authority, among others.
Gachagua, who is presently admitted at the Karen Hospital, was ousted after 53 Senators voted in support of the first count of gross violation of Articles 10, 27, 73, 75, 129 of the Constitution.
Only 13 Senators voted against one of the charges in the impeachment motion against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. The motion, introduced by Kibwezi MP Mwengi Mutuse, led to Gachagua’s historic ousting after a majority of Senators upheld the charges.
Despite his legal team’s efforts to delay the trial, the Senate proceeded with the vote, solidifying Gachagua’s position as the first deputy president to be impeached in Kenya’s history.
The Senate delivered mixed verdicts on the charges against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua during his impeachment trial:
On the first charge of gross violation of the Constitution, where Gachagua was accused of making divisive statements that threatened to discriminate and exclude certain Kenyans, 53 senators voted to uphold the charge, while 13 opposed it.
For the second charge, which accused him of undermining the President and the Cabinet, 28 senators supported the charge, but 39 voted to acquit him.
The third charge, regarding interference with Nairobi City County Government and undermining devolution, saw 19 senators in favor of the accusation, while 45 voted against it.
On the fourth charge of undermining judicial independence through public attacks on a judge, 51 senators upheld the charge, with 16 opposing it.
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Regarding the fifth charge of breaching his Oath of Office and Allegiance, 49 senators voted in favor, while 16 were against it.
The sixth charge, related to inflammatory public statements violating the National Cohesion and Integration Act, was upheld by 48 senators, with 18 voting against.
Gachagua was acquitted on the seventh charge of gross economic crimes, including conflict of interest and abuse of office, with only 14 senators supporting the charge, while 52 voted to clear him.
On the eighth charge, accusing Gachagua of making false and inciteful public remarks, he was found not guilty, with 27 senators supporting the charge and 40 voting against it.
For the ninth charge, which alleged that Gachagua undermined the National Intelligence Service, 46 senators upheld the accusation, while 20 opposed it.
Lastly, the tenth charge of insubordination to the President was not upheld, as 22 senators voted in favor, while 44 voted to acquit him.
