By Kenya’s Senate is poised to debate the potential dismissal of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua next week, following a decisive vote by the national assembly to impeach him, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi announced on Wednesday.
The national assembly voted 281 to 44 late Tuesday to impeach Gachagua, with one abstention, far exceeding the two-thirds majority required to advance the motion to the Senate. Kingi stated that the Senate would investigate the allegations against Gachagua on Wednesday and Thursday of next week.
Gachagua faces 11 charges, including allegations of self-enrichment and inciting ethnic hatred, all of which he vehemently denies. The deputy president dismissed the impeachment process as a “theatre of the absurd.”
The political crisis stems from a growing rift between Gachagua and President William Ruto, whom he supported in the 2022 election. Tensions escalated following deadly protests earlier this year against proposed tax increases and rising living costs.
Gachagua sparked controversy within Ruto’s coalition by comparing the government to a company and suggesting that coalition voters should have priority for public-sector jobs and development projects.
The impeachment proceedings have divided public opinion in Kenya. Some citizens argue that parliament should prioritize economic issues over political maneuvering, while others call for both Ruto and Gachagua to step down.
Melissa Kagondu, a beauty product vendor, expressed frustration with the current leadership, stating, “They should both be removed. After two years there has been no positive effect. We have had more crises. They came as a package so they should leave as a package.”
Robert Shaw, a Nairobi-based analyst, warned that the impeachment could further destabilize Kenya’s economy, which is already reeling from protests in June and July. “It is bound to get worse, if I was an investor, I would be literally be looking at how to consolidate my position ready for a storm,” Shaw told Reuters.
If at least two-thirds of the Senate vote to uphold the impeachment, Gachagua will be removed from office. President Ruto has not yet commented publicly on the proceedings against his deputy.
The political turmoil unfolds as Kenya grapples with economic challenges and social unrest, raising concerns about the country’s stability and governance in the coming months.
