Kenyan legislators validate Vice President Gachagua’s impeachment

Legislators in Kenya have validated the impeachment of the country’s Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

The decision came via a 281-44 vote, surpassing the required 117 votes.

The motion will now proceed to the upper house for debate and a vote.

A two-thirds majority of senators is needed to finalize the impeachment.

Checks by Diaspora Digital Media indicate that Kenya’s constitution allows for automatic removal if both chambers approve, although Gachagua has stated he would challenge the decision in court.

He faces accusations of supporting anti-government protests, corruption, and other irregularities, all of which he denies.

Supporters and opponents of the impeachment clashed publicly last week after the ruling alliance brought the motion to parliament.

Gachagua, in his defense, described the process as political and asked lawmakers to vote “without intimidation and coercion.”

He also noted that he believed the motion had the president’s backing.

President William Ruto has yet to comment on the impeachment but previously stated he would not publicly humiliate his deputy, referencing his difficult relationship with former president Uhuru Kenyatta.

On Sunday, Gachagua sought forgiveness from Ruto, legislators, and Kenyans during a prayer meeting, clarifying later that it wasn’t an admission of guilt and rejecting rumours of his resignation.

He further defended his expenditures on residence renovations, claiming they were necessary to restore dignity to the property, and stated that some of the properties listed in the motion belonged to his late brother.

Background

Kenya’s Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is facing impeachment due to allegations of violating the constitution, specifically pilfering public funds and making inflammatory statements that stir ethnic hatred.

This move has been sparked by President William Ruto’s allies, who accuse Gachagua of backing deadly anti-government protests earlier this year.

The protests resulted in over 60 deaths and forced Ruto to scrap a revenue plan and find alternative ways to address the nation’s budget shortfall.

The impeachment process has already begun, with the National Assembly voting 281 to 44 in favor of removing Gachagua from office.

The motion will now be forwarded to the Senate for further hearings before a final decision is made.

If successful, Gachagua’s ouster could lead to renewed political instability in Kenya, which is still recovering from the protests.

Gachagua

Born on February 28, 1965, in Hiriga village, Nyeri County, Gachagua comes from a family of Mau Mau freedom fighters.

His parents, Gachagua Reriani and Martha Kirigo, played a significant role in Kenya’s struggle for independence.

Gachagua’s educational background includes attending Kabiruini Primary School and Kianyaga High School, before graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Literature from the University of Nairobi in 1988.

*Early Career
Gachagua started his career as an administration officer and later became a District Officer III in Kirinyaga District.

He also served as a personal assistant to Uhuru Kenyatta, who was then the Minister for Local Government.

*Political Career
Gachagua’s entry into politics began when he was elected as the Member of Parliament for Mathira Constituency in 2017.

He gained recognition for his outspoken and aggressive style of politics, championing issues affecting Mount Kenya residents.

In 2022, William Ruto chose Gachagua as his running mate, and they won the presidential election with 50.4% of the vote.

However, Gachagua’s tenure as Deputy President has been marred by controversy, including corruption allegations and a recent impeachment motion.

On October 8, 2024, the National Assembly voted to impeach him, with 281 MPs supporting the motion.

His fate now lies with the Kenyan Senate.

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