Speaker Kingi cautions Senators against public discussions on Gachagua's impeachment

Senate Speaker Amason Kingi has warned Senators to refrain from making public comments on the impeachment process against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

Communicating to the plenary on Wednesday, the Speaker emphasised that discussing the merits or demerits of the motion outside Senate proceedings would violate Standing Order 99, which prohibits anticipation of debate.

“In the meantime and during the pendency of this impeachment process in the Senate, I wish to caution Honourable Senators to desist from publicly commenting on the merits or demerits of the impeachment Motion,” he said on Wednesday.

The Speaker further clarified that such actions would amount to gross disorderly conduct under Standing Order 122.

“To make it clear, it shall constitute gross disorderly conduct within the meaning of standing order 122 for a Senator to make comments, whether written or spoken, about the conduct of the Deputy President or the impeachment process which is outside the confines of the impeachment proceedings as such comments may prejudice the just outcome of the process,” he said.

Emphasising on the serious business ahead of the Senate, the Speaker termed the impeachment motion as unique, as it is the first ever to propose removal from office by impeachment of a deputy president.

Speaker of the Senate @HonAmasonKingi: This impeachment is unique and unprecedented. This is yet another opportunity for the @Senate_KE to demonstrate its fidelity to the Constitution and to live up to its reputation. #SenateLive pic.twitter.com/1YAT4jdFdR

— Senate of Kenya (@Senate_KE) October 9, 2024

"Deep reflection"

Kingi told the Senators that the moment calls for deep reflection on the critical responsibility of the Senate in investigating such a proposal.

“This impeachment is unique and unprecedented. This is yet another opportunity for the Senate to demonstrate its fidelity to the Constitution and to live up to its reputation,” he said.

The Senate Speaker had gazetted the morning session as a sitting to hear the charges against the removal from office by the impeachment of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

This was after Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula officially communicated to the Senate the resolution on Gachagua’s ouster.

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

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.