- On Thursday, October 17, Members of the Senate voted to impeach Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua
- A majority of the senators voted to approve the 11 charges levelled against Gachagua, including gross violation of the constitution
- The vote by the senators came after some dramatic scenes, including the failure of the deputy president to present his defence
- Gachagua becomes the first deputy president to be removed in this way since the possibility was introduced in Kenya’s revised 2010 constitution
CHECK OUT: No Location Limits! Master Copywriting from Anywhere in Kenya with Our Online Course. Enroll & Get Started Today!
Amos Khaemba, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
Nairobi – Rigathi Gachagua has become the first deputy president to be impeached under the 2010 Constitution.
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.
A majority of the senators voted in favour of the charges against the embattled deputy president.
PAY ATTENTION:TUKO is in WhatsApp Channels now! Subscribe and read news in favourite messenger.
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.
On the first charge of gross violation of the Constitution and other laws, the Senate found Gachagua guilty, with 26 Senators voting to confirm the charge, 4 voting against it, and 14 abstaining.
In the first charge, Gachagua where 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 the charge, Gachagua was accused of promoting ethnic discrimination and undermining national unity through divisive public statements.
Ground number two where Gachagua was accused of undermining the authority of the President and the Cabinet thereby disrupting the national government from executing its mandate was not not approved by senators.
Gachagua has become the first deputy president to be removed in this way since the possibility was introduced in Kenya’s revised 2010 constitution.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
