Final Showdown: Gachagua to take the stand ahead of Senate vote on impeachment trial

It's a make-or-break moment for Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua who is set to present his defense on Thursday in the ongoing impeachment proceedings against him.

This session will allow him to contest the 11 charges brought against him using evidence, affidavits, and witness testimonies, with Gachagua being the sole individual expected to testify.

The hearing is carefully structured to include a morning session from 9 am to 1 pm, dedicated to the presentation of evidence by the Deputy President, along with cross-examination and re-examination of witnesses.

Following a lunch break, the afternoon session will resume at 2.30 pm, continuing with further evidence presentation and cross-examination until 3.30 pm.

From 3.30 pm to 4.30 pm, senators will have the opportunity to ask questions and seek clarifications.

This will be followed by closing statements, with the National Assembly presenting its statement from 4.30 pm to 5.30 pm and DP Gachagua delivering his closing statement from 5.30 pm to 6.30 pm.

Motion debate

The day will culminate in a debate on the motion regarding Gachagua's proposed removal from office, scheduled from 6.30 pm to 8.30 pm, followed by the crucial vote at 8.30 pm.

Senate Speaker Amason Kingi during Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's impeachment trial at the Senate on October 16, 2024. (Photo: Senate)

An important aspect of this process is the consequences for Gachagua; if at least 45 out of the 67 senators vote to uphold any of the 11 charges against him, he would be removed from office.

The mover of the impeachment motion against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse, faced intense questioning from Gachagua's legal team during cross-examination in the Senate on Wednesday evening.

The impeachment trial took a dramatic turn as the Deputy President's lawyers pressed Mutuse to back up his claims.

Advocate Elisha Ongoya, who is in Gachagua's defense team, challenged Mutuse on the Sh5.2 billion fortune he alleged Gachagua has amassed since taking office.

This figure is central to the 11 charges against the Deputy President.

The impeachment trial revolves around claims that Gachagua has rapidly accumulated wealth, including high-value properties such as Outspan Hotel, Olive Gardens Hotel, and Treetops Hotel, among others.

In addition, the former one-term Mathira MP who rose from a powerful District Officer in the Moi era to become the country's second in command, is sitting on the cusp of history.

If the Senate confirms his impeachment tonight Gachagua would become the first-ever second in command to be successfully removed from office by Parliament.