"I'm not guilty!" Gachagua denies all 11 charges against him in impeachment trial
By Maureen Kinyanjui |
Deputy President has been accused among other counts, persistently made statements threatening to discriminate against sections of the Kenyan population in terms of public appointments and resource allocation.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has pleaded not guilty to all 11 charges levelled against him by the National Assembly.
Speaking on Wednesday at the Senate after the accusations were read to him ahead of hearing the impeachment case at the Senate, Gachagua insisted he is not guilty to all charges.
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This is the first time in Kenyan history that a deputy President is being tried for impeachment.
The motion for his impeachment was brought forward by Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse, who accused the Deputy President of multiple violations of the Constitution and other laws governing public office conduct.
Mutuse outlined the grounds for impeachment, including accusations that Gachagua had violated various constitutional articles.
Charges
He claimed that the Deputy President had persistently made statements threatening to discriminate against sections of the Kenyan population in terms of public appointments and resource allocation.
Additionally, Gachagua was accused of undermining the presidency and the Cabinet by making unilateral public statements that contradicted government policies and the President’s role as a symbol of national unity.
Further charges included undermining devolution, with accusations that Gachagua interfered with Nairobi County's operations, inciting citizens against lawful directives, and publicly criticising county leadership.
The motion also alleged that Gachagua had violated the independence of the judiciary by publicly attacking a High Court judge and threatening to file a petition for their removal. The Deputy President was accused of breaching his oath of office and making inflammatory public statements that endangered national unity.
Mutuse further claimed that Gachagua had engaged in gross economic crimes, including conflict of interest, abuse of office, and amassing wealth incompatible with his legitimate income, allegedly acquiring property worth Sh5.2 billion.
Gachagua is being represented by lawyers Paul Muite and Elisha Ongoya, Tom Macharia, Victor Swanya, Ndegwa Njiru, John Njomo, Faith Waigwa, Amos Kisilu, George Wandati, George Sakimpa, Andrew Muge, Eric Naibei, Julia Omwamba and Willis Echesa.
The National Assembly is banking on the services of Lawyer James Orengo as the lead counsel.
Orengo will lead a legal team comprising Paul Nyamodi, Gumbo Eric, Kipkogei Moses Kipkemoi, Muthomi Thiankolu, Peter Wanyama, Melly Kennedy Kipkoech, Joan Jeruto, Muriuki Eric Mwirigi, Mwereru Boniface Mawira, Ondago Kevine Otieno, Alex Mbaya, Kennedy Kyalo and John Mwangi Kang'u.
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