Senators have voted to impeach Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua after a two-day trial involving extensive evidence and cross-examination hours culminating in his ousting last night.
Gachagua had been scheduled to defend himself before the Senate but was admitted to The Karen Hospital, prompting his legal team to leave the chamber in protest. His impeachment follows a decisive vote last week in the National Assembly, which set the stage for this two-day Senate trial.
Gachagua, elected alongside President William Ruto just over two years ago, faced 11 charges, including inciting ethnic divisions and violating his oath of office. Despite his lawyer’s request for a postponement, senators proceeded with the trial, underscoring their determination to remove him.
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“Pursuant to Articles 145, 7 and 151 (b) and 2 of the Constitution, and Standing Orders 78 (8) of the Senate, the Senate has removed from office by impeachment Rigathi Gachagua, the Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya. Accordingly, Rigathi Gachagua ceases to hold office,” Speaker Amason Kingi declared yesterday.
Gachagua, popularly known as Riggy G, has called the impeachment a “political lynching,” reflecting a deepening rift with President Ruto. The conflict intensified in June when Gachagua publicly criticized the intelligence agency for handling mass protests against unpopular tax hikes, leading to Ruto’s cabinet reshuffle.
The Senate’s decision was swift, with 54 out of 67 senators supporting the first charge against Gachagua. He was found guilty on five of the eleven charges, effectively ending his tenure and consolidating Ruto’s grip on power. Gachagua was cleared of six charges, including corruption and money laundering.
A doctor confirmed that Gachagua, 59, was stable but undergoing tests for heart issues.
In the meantime, there is speculation regarding potential successors for him, with certain of President Ruto’s closest allies in the Mt. Kenya region emerging as potential candidates.
