By Kenya’s parliament on Tuesday tabled a motion to impeach Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua for alleged gross violation of the constitution, parliamentary speaker Moses Wetang’ula announced, signaling a deepening rift within the country’s leadership.
The motion, presented by Mwengi Mutuse, a member of President William Ruto’s coalition, accuses Gachagua of denying people “equal opportunities for public service appointments and allocation of public resources,” among other charges. Over one-third of lawmakers have signed the motion, meeting the threshold for its introduction.
“A special motion before the House presents an unprecedented constitutional moment in our democracy,” Wetang’ula said. “Without doubt, it summons this house to test for the first time, under the 2010 constitution, the provisions of our constitution relating to the removal from office by impeachment of the deputy president.”
The move comes amid reports of a growing divide between Ruto and Gachagua. The deputy president recently claimed he has been sidelined and denied accusations linking him and associates to violent protests earlier this year.
Majority leader Kimani Ichung’wah confirmed his support for the impeachment, stating, “I will support that impeachment motion to stop a process where government is being undermined and sabotaged from within government.”
Gachagua, who commands significant support in Kenya’s populous central region, has not responded to requests for comment. However, he previously stated that any impeachment motion would require Ruto’s approval.
The political tension comes on the heels of deadly protests against a controversial finance bill, which forced Ruto to shelve the legislation in June and reshuffle his cabinet. More than 50 people were killed in the unrest, marking Ruto’s biggest crisis since taking office in 2022.
