Speaker Amason Kingi bans all senators from travelling ahead of impeachment hearings

All Senators and Senate staff have been barred from travelling outside the country, effective Tuesday, October 8, 2024, to Saturday, October 19, 2024

In an official notice, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi said all travel plans outside the country by Senators and staff have been put on hold to prioritise critical upcoming businesses.

“As you are aware, the Senate has substantive upcoming business for consideration in the coming days. Given the gravity of these matters, it is paramount that we maintain a focused presence in the Senate,” he said.

Additionally, Senate committees have been urged to suspend any activities outside Nairobi during this period.

“This directive aims to ensure that all Senators are able to prioritise their participation in these important proceedings without distractions or disruptions,” Kingi added.

He emphasised the importance of remaining focused on upcoming legislative matters, noting the significance of these deliberations for the Senate's agenda.

Among the matters set to be discussed by the Senators are the impeachment of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Kericho Governor Eric Mutai.

The discussions around Gachagua’s impeachment have gained traction due to allegations of misconduct and failure to perform his office duties effectively. Senators are expected to debate the merits of the charges and gather testimonies before making a decision.

On Wednesday, the Speaker instructed the Clerk of the Senate to extend invitations for the appearances of Gachagua and representatives from the National Assembly.

Both the Deputy President and the National Assembly are required to submit their responses to the Clerk's office by 5 pm on Monday, October 14, 2024.

Additionally, Speaker Kingi announced that the trial will take place next week on Wednesday, October 16, and Thursday, October 17, 2024.

On Tuesday evening, 281 Members of Parliament supported the impeachment motion against Gachagua, while 44 opposed it and one abstained.

The Special Motion, introduced by Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse, outlined 11 charges against the Deputy President. Among the charges are serious violations of the Constitution, actions undermining the President and the Cabinet, compromising the principles of Devolution, and publicly attacking a judge, which threatens judicial independence.

Other allegations include making inflammatory statements, involvement in economic crimes, disseminating false and divisive remarks, openly defying the President, and consistently bullying state and public officials.

Meanwhile, the situation surrounding Governor Mutai is similarly contentious, with claims of mismanagement and corruption within the county administration. The Senate's decision on whether to proceed with impeachment will hinge on the evidence presented during these hearings.

Both proceedings have sparked significant public interest, with citizens and political analysts closely monitoring the developments.