The Kenyan Senate has commenced debates on the impeachment of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, following his loss in court to halt the proceedings.
This development comes after the National Assembly voted overwhelmingly to impeach Gachagua on 11 charges, including corruption and abuse of office.
Gachagua, who has denied all allegations, will remain in office until the Senate concludes whether to confirm his removal. The Senate initially convened last week, but the debate on the impeachment motion officially began on Wednesday behind closed doors, with a decision expected on Thursday.
If the Senate approves his removal, Gachagua would become the first deputy president to be ousted in this manner since impeachment was introduced in Kenya’s revised 2010 constitution. This move has significant implications for Kenyan politics, particularly given Gachagua’s history of weathering previous corruption scandals.
Gachagua, a powerful businessman from Kenya’s largest tribe, the Kikuyu, became deputy leader as President William Ruto’s running mate in a closely contested election in August 2022. However, he has complained of being sidelined by the president and was accused of supporting youth-led anti-government protests that erupted in June.
Gachagua’s legal team argued that the impeachment process was unfair and fast-tracked, but Kenyan High Courts ruled against suspending the Senate session and the entire process. Notably, President Ruto has not publicly commented on the impeachment, while Gachagua acknowledged that the process required presidential approval.
