The Kenyan National Assembly voted on Tuesday to remove H.E. Hon. Rigathi Gachagua, the Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya, from office.
Deputy President Rigathi had earlier appeared at Parliament to present his defence on allegations levelled against him by Hon. Mwengi Mutuse (Kibwezi West) through a Special Motion proposing his Removal from Office by Impeachment.
The Deputy President was accorded two hours to make his presentation.
The House then moved on to vote on the special motion for impeachment which was moved by MP Mutuse.
Results from the vote show that 281 members voted yes, 44 member voted No and 1 member was absent. By a majority vote, the resolution was carried.
Among the eleven charges brought against him, Rigathi is accused of demeaning the National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director-General Noordin Haji whom he accused of failing to advise the government on the public feelings on the Finance Bill, 2024 that led to the deaths of Kenyans following protests against over taxation.
On the claim that he has amassed wealth worth Sh5.2 billion within the two years he has been in office, Rigathi noted that a significant number of property to which this amount “is erroneously and maliciously attached, belongs to my late brother Nderitu Gachagua and as demonstrated by his Will.”
Moving the motion, MP Mutuse, armed with video clips, accused the DP of coercing the sale of his late brother’s property over the past two years.
The Kibwezi West MP also questioned the DP’s statement about transferring his companies to his sons, who reportedly secured a Sh600 million loan.
Other accusations include gross violation of the constitution, undermining the President, undermining devolution, irregular acquisition of wealth, publicly attacking a judge, intimidating acting Kemsa CEO, promoting ethnicity and insubordination to the president, among other charges.
Following the resolution by the National Assembly, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Rt. Hon. Dr. Moses Wetang’ula, has now notified the Speaker of the Senate.
Gachagua now has the Senate to save him, that is, if he manages to raise 23 senators to defeat the motion sponsored by Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse.
Additional reporting by Nation.Africa