Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua
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Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua faces a critical moment as the Senate commences hearings on his proposed impeachment.
The 67-member body has allocated two days to deliberate and determine Gachagua's fate following the National Assembly's passage of the impeachment motion. As Gachagua prepares to defend himself before the Senate, his tenure as Kenya's second-in-command hangs in the balance. The potential removal of Gachagua has sparked intense political manoeuvring. Sources close to the matter suggest that his replacement could be named before Mashujaa Day on October 20, though the National Assembly would need to conduct approval hearings before the new deputy president could be sworn in.
If the Senate confirms his impeachment, Gachagua would make history as the first deputy leader to be removed from office by Parliament. Gachagua's political survival hinges on securing the support of at least 23 senators. His removal would be confirmed if a minimum of 45 senators vote to uphold any of the 11 charges against him. The deputy president is scheduled to present his defence, including evidence and affidavits, on Thursday afternoon. His legal team has remained discreet about potential witnesses. The impeachment proceedings have exposed fissures within the ruling Kenya Kwanza alliance and the opposition Azimio coalition.
Some Mount Kenya politicians who initially supported Gachagua's removal in the National Assembly are reportedly reconsidering their positions due to concerns about the succession dynamics. The prospect of Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki as a potential replacement has influenced voting patterns, particularly among MPs from Mount Kenya East. An impeachment verdict would have far-reaching consequences for Gachagua, potentially barring him from public service for life under leadership and integrity laws. In response, he has pursued multiple legal avenues to block the proceedings.
However, recent court rulings have declined to intervene, citing the principle of separation of powers and the need to allow independent government institutions to function without hindrance. The charges against Gachagua include allegations of corruption, practising ethnically divisive politics, and undermining the government. He stands accused of acquiring properties through illicit means, though he maintains that much of the property in question belonged to his late brother's estate. Gachagua, known colloquially as "Riggy G," has dismissed the allegations as "outrageous" and "sheer propaganda."