Gachagua ‘in trouble’ as Court declines to stop impeachment motion

By Jabali Media

Deputy President (DP) Rigathi Gachagua’s allies’ bid to stop the processing of an impeachment motion against him has hit a hurdle.  

High Court Judge, Bahati Mwamuye declined to give an interim order to stop tabling of the motion, instead directing Parliament (National Assembly and the Senate) to serve their rejoinders by Thursday, October 3, 2024.

The motion was filed by former United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Secretary General, Cleophas Malala.

The former Kakamega Senator sought to bar the National Assembly and the Senate from tabling, debating, considering, or acting upon any motion seeking to oust Gachagua.

He argued that both Houses lack the required two-thirds gender rule threshold, and therefore have breached constitutional provisions.

Justice Mwamuye said that Malala, if need be, can file a rejoinder by the end of Friday, October 4. The matter shall be mentioned on October 7.

Speaking on Sunday, Majority leader in the National Assembly Kimani Ichung'wah confirmed that the motion of impeachment will be tabled on Tuesday at 2:30pm.

He said he would vote in support of the motion to impeach Gachagua, who doubles up as UDA deputy party leader.

"It is true there is an impeachment motion against the Deputy President. As the MP for Kikuyu, I have read the motion and appended my signature."

He accused the second in command of endless politicking, distracting Kenya Kwanza’s development agenda.

"We need to focus on development politics to fulfil the promises we made. I do not believe in the politics of ethnicity or sabotaging the government we formed,” he added.

The motion will require the backing of 233 MPs for it to sail through. Reports indicate that 302 members of Parliament had appended their signatures in support of the motion.

The DP is being accused of violating articles 147, 148,174,186 and 189, which speak to his conduct and responsibility as the principal assistant to the President.

Having been elected on a single ticket with President William Ruto in 2022, Gachagua is challenging MPs to oust him together with the Head of State.

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