Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is expected to present himself before his accusers in Parliament on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, for defence against allegations fronted as grounds for his impeachment.
This is in line with the National Assembly’s standing orders, which require a leader set for impeachment to be heard or send a representative to act in their capacity.
“The Deputy President or the President as the case may be shall be accorded an opportunity to be heard in accordance with the standing orders 67(b)(ii),” Parliament’s Deputy Speaker Gladys Shollei said on Tuesday, October 1, 2024.
Gachagua in Parliament
Gachagua is set to be received at the National Assembly between 4:00 pm and 5:00 pm, where he is expected to challenge the 11 grounds for his impeachment.
Gachagua will be accorded two hours of uninterrupted time as he prosecutes his defence on the floor of the House.
After that, his accuser, who is also the mover of the impeachment motion, Kibwezi West MP Eckomas Mutuse, will be given 30 minutes to challenge the defence of the deputy president.
This will be followed by one of Gachagua’s political foes, the National Assembly’s Leader of the Majority, Kimani Ichung’wah, and the Leader of the Minority, Junet Mohammed, who will both have 10 minutes.
After this, the floor will be open to the plenary to air their views in support of or against the special motion of impeaching the Deputy President.
Gachagua is expected to come face-to-face with his accusers and hear their views inside Parliament.
Gachagua’s fate
The National Assembly is expected to dispense with the motion today, Tuesday, October 8, 2024, per the constitutional requirement that it be processed within seven days of receipt.
The Deputy President will survive if less than 233 MPs vote to impeach him. However, if 233 of the 291 MPS who signed in support of the impeachment motion vote him out of office, the National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula will have two days to inform the Senate of the decision.
The Senate will have 10 days to investigate the 11 grounds for the impeachment of Gachagua either through an 11-member committee or the Senate plenary.
If less than 45 senators vote to impeach Gachagua, he survives. However, if 45 of the 67 senators vote against the second in command, then the seat is declared vacant.
