Senate adjourns for two hours to allow lawyers trace Gachagua in hospital

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua (right) with lawyer Tom Macharia at the Senate on October 16, 2024. (Photo: Senate)

By Lucy Mumbi
Thursday, October 17, 2024

Gachagua is being accused of multiple violations of the Constitution and laws governing the conduct of a public officer.

Senate Speaker Amason Kingi has Thursday afternoon suspended the impeachment trial of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua after he failed to appear to take the stand and present his defence as expected.

Kingi suspended the afternoon sitting after one of the DP’s lawyers, Paul Muite, requested additional time to locate Gachagua, who is reportedly hospitalised.

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“I have just received this information. My proposal is that you give me the rest of the day. I’d like to go and have an assessment of his situation and maybe even come back here by 5 pm,” Muite stated.

In response to Muite's request, Kingi directed Gachagua's legal team to locate their client within two hours, warning that he would proceed with a ruling if they failed to do so.

"Having considered the two sides, my directions are as follows: that we suspend this sitting and resume at exactly 5 pm. We expect the DP to take the witness stand. This is a time-bound process, unfortunately. It is so ordered,” Kingi ruled.

The Deputy President was expected to take the stand as a witness in his impeachment trial.

Multiple accusations

Gachagua is being accused of multiple violations of the Constitution and laws governing the conduct of a public officer.

The motion for his impeachment was introduced at the National Assembly by Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse, who outlined several serious allegations against the Deputy President.

Mutuse detailed the grounds for impeachment, including claims that Gachagua had violated various constitutional articles. He alleged that the Deputy President had consistently made statements threatening to discriminate against certain segments of the Kenyan population regarding public appointments and resource allocation.

Additionally, Gachagua is accused of undermining both the presidency and the Cabinet by issuing unilateral public statements that contradicted established government policies and the President’s role as a symbol of national unity.

Further charges involve undermining devolution, with accusations that Gachagua interfered with Nairobi County's operations, incited citizens against lawful directives, and publicly criticised county leadership.

The motion also alleges that Gachagua violated the independence of the Judiciary by publicly attacking a High Court judge and threatening to file a petition for her removal. He is also accused of breaching his oath of office and making inflammatory public statements that jeopardise national unity.

Mutuse also 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 valued at Sh5.2 billion.