Kenyan Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua Impeached In Unprecedented Senate Vote

In a landmark decision, the Kenyan Senate has voted to impeach Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, making him the first deputy president to be removed from office since Kenya’s 2010 constitutional reforms. The Senate found Gachagua guilty on five of the 11 charges he faced, including corruption, money laundering, ethnic divisiveness, insubordination, and undermining the government. Only one conviction was needed to seal his removal.

The impeachment follows an earlier vote by the National Assembly, which passed the motion overwhelmingly last week. Gachagua, 59, has consistently denied the charges but was unable to testify in his defense due to hospitalization for severe chest pains. Despite his absence, the Senate proceeded with the historic vote.

A tense moment came when Gachagua’s lawyer, Paul Muite, requested a delay in proceedings due to his client’s medical condition, describing Gachagua as “seriously ill.” However, the Senate rejected the request, leading Muite and his legal team to walk out in protest.

President William Ruto, whose relationship with Gachagua has been strained in recent months, has remained silent on the impeachment. Some Kenyans view the move as politically motivated, speculating that it serves as a distraction from the aftermath of recent anti-tax protests that shook the nation.

Political experts, including Karuti Kanyinga from the University of Nairobi, suggest the impeachment could have wider repercussions. “This could lead to increased calls for similar scrutiny of President Ruto,” Kanyinga warned, as the hearings have drawn attention to high-level financial dealings within the government.

Gachagua, calling the process a “political lynching,” maintains his innocence. His impeachment, while finalized by the Senate, is likely to deepen political tensions in Kenya as the country faces ongoing economic challenges and widespread public dissatisfaction.