Wetang'ula officially communicates Gachagua's ouster to Senate

Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula has officially communicated to the Senate the resolution on Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s ouster.

Samuel Njoroge, the Clerk of the National Assembly sent the communication in a letter dated October 9, 2024.

“Attached herewith, please find a message in respect of the Resolution of the National Assembly on its approval of a Special Motion on the Removal from Office Impeachment, of Rigathi Gachagua, EGH, Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya,” reads the letter in part.

The letter was addressed and received by Clerk of the Senate Jeremiah Nyegenye.

In a historic move on Tuesday, 281 Members of Parliament voted to impeach Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, surpassing the required two-thirds majority set by the Constitution.

The impeachment motion, spearheaded by Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse, accused the Deputy President of numerous violations, including breaches of the Constitution, discriminatory public statements, and undermining the presidency.

In total, 44 MPs voted against the impeachment motion, while one MP abstained from the vote.

Next steps

The hearing may be in plenary or the Senate may appoint a special Committee of 11 Senators to investigate the matter.

The Deputy President will face the whole house and defend himself for the plenary.

The other option is for the trial to be conducted by an 11-member special committee of the Senate.

The committee has seven days within which to report to the House.

Each charge will be voted on individually, and if at least two-thirds of the Senate members vote to uphold any charge, the Deputy President will be removed from office.

If the allegations are unsubstantiated, the Deputy President will continue to serve in office.