The impeachment proceedings against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua have sent shockwaves through the political landscape with the National Assembly voting overwhelmingly to impeach him on 11 charges, including gross violation of the Constitution and promoting ethnic discrimination.
Gachagua’s legal team, led by Senior Counsel Paul Muite, has been working diligently to challenge the impeachment, arguing that the charges are based on unsupported allegations and hearsay. The Senate trial, scheduled to commence on Wednesday and potentially extend to Friday, has sparked significant political debate. Speaker Amason Kingi has directed that the case be heard before the Senate plenary. If at least two-thirds of the Senate vote to uphold the ouster, Gachagua will be dismissed from his position. The charges against him are wide-ranging, including accusations of gross misconduct, undermining the President, and corruption.
In a related development, a powerful political actor is reportedly living in fear over the ongoing impeachment proceedings. This individual is concerned that when the Senate begins its deliberations, potentially incriminating videos could be played, implicating them in serious crimes. Efforts are reportedly being made to ensure that videos unrelated to the impeachment are rejected by the Senate and not played in public. The political disquiet has extended to other areas of government as well. A government official, known for his lavish lifestyle, was recently prohibited from travelling to South Africa to celebrate his birthday.
Despite having made extensive preparations, including booking hotels and securing tickets for friends, a directive from powerful forces warned him not to leave the country until certain important issues were resolved. The celebration subsequently took place at a questionable establishment in one of Nairobi’s affluent suburbs. In Parliament, an MP finds herself in a dangerous position after voting against the impeachment motion despite seeking favours for fictitious mileage claims. Rumours suggest that plans are underway to expose the vocal MP, with the possibility of an appointment with anti-corruption investigators looming.
The government’s internal dynamics are also under scrutiny. A recently appointed cabinet secretary has been criticized for apparent laziness, refusing to schedule Friday meetings and expressing a desire to conclude all work by Thursday. This behaviour stands in contrast to the individual’s pre-appointment persona as a workaholic with solutions to the country’s problems. In a separate incident, drama unfolded outside a Cabinet Minister’s office when a former employee demanded an audience, seeking to understand why he had been ditched despite having a family to support. Initially blocked by security, the man’s emotional outburst eventually caught the attention of the minister, who is reportedly notorious for neglecting staff in times of need.
