Wetang’ula rejects MP's request to withdraw impeachment signature against Gachagua
By Maureen Kinyanjui |
"Once you append your signature to a Special Motion, you have crossed the rubicon and you cannot withdraw that signature," the Speaker said.
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula on Tuesday turned down a request from Tetu MP Geoffrey Wandeto to retract his support for the motion to impeach Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
During the debate on the impeachment motion, Wetang'ula shared that he received a letter from Wandeto attempting to withdraw his signature.
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"I want to invite the honourable members to read the Standing Orders that are very clear. Once you append your signature to a Special Motion, you have crossed the Rubicon and you cannot withdraw that signature," the Speaker said.
The term "rubicon" refers to a point of no return, indicating that once a decision is made, it cannot be reversed.
The impeachment motion was introduced last week by Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse.
At least 291 out of 345 members of the National Assembly signed in favour of the motion, surpassing the necessary 117-member threshold by 174 signatures.
Currently, the National Assembly consists of 345 members, just four short of the constitutional total of 349.
The seats for Banisa, Magarini, and Ugunja constituencies remain vacant, and the ODM nomination slot previously held by Treasury CS John Mbadi has not yet been filled.
Key events
The process started at 9 am, with the tabling of the Report of the Public Participation exercise that was conducted on the impeachment, where Kenyans gave their views on every 11 allegations against Gachagua.
The mover of the motion, Mutuse Mwengi, got a chance to move the motion. According to the National Assembly Order Paper for Tuesday, he had at least one hour to do so.
"Each speech in a debate on a Special Motion under Articles 145 and 150 of the Constitution shall be limited as follows:- (a) A maximum of sixty (60) minutes for the Mover in moving," it read in part.
The Leaders of the Majority and Minority in the National Assembly will each receive 10 minutes to make statements regarding the motion, after which other members can join the debate, with each comment limited to five minutes.
The general discussion is expected to last approximately seven hours.
Deputy President Gachagua will also be allowed to speak, with at least two hours dedicated for him to address the assembly before a vote takes place.
He has been allocated time from 5 pm to 7 pm today to present his defense. According to Standing Order 67, the House is obligated to allow Gachagua to defend himself either in person or through a representative. Following Gachagua's statement, MP Mutuse Mwengi will have an additional 30 minutes to respond.
The final vote on the motion will then occur.
Under Articles 145 and 150 of the Constitution of Kenya, if 233 Members of the National Assembly support the motion, it will be forwarded to the Speaker of the Senate within two days.
Conversely, if the motion fails to gain the necessary support, the matter will be considered resolved, and Gachagua will retain his position.
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