Kenya’s parliament has initiated impeachment moves against the country’s deputy president, Rigathi Gachagua whose relationship with President William Ruto is reported to have seriously deteriorated following the anti-tax riots that rocked the country some months ago.
The deputy president is also accused of undermining the government and engaging in divisive politics along ethnic lines. The impeachment process was initiated on October 1st, with 291 members of parliament supporting the motion, well exceeding the required minimum of 117.
The motion against the deputy president lists 11 grounds for impeachment, including allegations that he accumulated assets worth $40 million in just two years, despite having an annual salary of only $93,000. Gachagua, however, argues that his wealth is derived from his family’s business dealings in real estate, hospitality, and construction.
Deputy President, Rigathi Gachagua, has come out strongly against the allegations of corruption and the impeachment process he is facing. He has dismissed the allegations as “outrageous propaganda” and has branded the entire process as a “political witch hunt” aimed at overturning the will of the people.
Gachagua’s legal team, comprising around 25 lawyers, is reportedly planning to rely on electronic evidence, including videos, to defend their client in the National Assembly. Despite his attempts to halt the impeachment process through legal means, Gachagua has been unsuccessful, and he has warned that his removal from office could lead to discontent among his supporters.
If the motion passes, Gachagua will become the first deputy president to be impeached since the introduction of the revised 2010 constitution.
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