The Kenyan Senate commenced its review of the impeachment proceedings against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Wednesday, following months of tension with President William Ruto.
The upper house of Parliament was given seven days to deliberate on this matter but prioritized it in their agenda during the Wednesday session, just hours after a vote by the National Assembly.
Debates began around 11:00 AM local time (08:00 GMT). The Senate now has ten days to reach a decision on the motion, which requires 45 votes out of 68 for approval.
On Tuesday evening, Members of Parliament voted 282 in favor out of 349 for a motion calling for Gachagua’s impeachment based on eleven grounds. These include “threatening national unity,” “insubordination” toward the president, and various allegations of “economic crimes,” including embezzlement of public funds, conflicts of interest, and abuse of power.
If approved, the 59-year-old Rigathi Gachagua would become the first Deputy president to be removed from office under the procedures established by the 2010 Constitution.
