Kenyan Court To Rule On Deputy President’s Bid To Block Impeachment Vote

A Kenyan court is set to rule on Tuesday on an urgent petition by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who was seeking to halt a Senate debate and vote on his impeachment.

The ruling will be delivered by High Court Judge Enock Chacha Mwita at 2:30p.m. local time (1130 GMT).

LEADERSHIP recalls that the National Assembly, Kenya’s lower house of parliament, had last week made history by voting overwhelmingly to impeach Gachagua on 11 charges, including allegations of corruption. Gachagua, 59, has denied all allegations and will continue in his role as deputy president until the Senate makes a final decision on his removal.

In his court filing, Gachagua argued that the impeachment process had been unfair and rushed. His bid to stop the proceedings, which are scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, is one of over two dozen cases filed to contest his impeachment — a first for a deputy president since Kenya’s revised 2010 constitution allowed for the process.

On Monday, Chief Justice Martha Koome empaneled a three-judge bench to hear six petitions that have been consolidated as part of the legal challenge. Gachagua, a prominent businessman from Kenya’s largest ethnic group, the Kikuyu, rose to the position of deputy president as President William Ruto’s running mate in the closely contested 2022 election.

However, recent tensions have emerged between Gachagua and the president. The deputy president has publicly complained about being sidelined and has been accused of backing youth-led protests against the government that took place in June. Among the charges leveled against him is an accusation of threatening a judge.

Expressing his confidence in the judiciary, Gachagua stated, “I am a believer in the independence of the judiciary. I am certain that the courts will exercise judicial authority and protect and uphold the constitution and the will of the people.” He made these remarks during a church service in central Kenya on Sunday.

The impeachment required a two-thirds majority in the Senate to be successful. As of now, President Ruto has not publicly commented on the impeachment process against his deputy.

The court’s upcoming ruling will determine whether the Senate can proceed with its vote, which could lead to Gachagua’s removal from office. This high-stakes decision has captured national attention, with many watching closely to see how it will impact Kenya’s political landscape.