National Assembly impeach Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua from office

The National Assembly has this evening impeached Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua even after putting up a spirited defence on the floor of the House to rebuff the eleven grounds of ouster bordering on corruption, abuse of office and gross violation of the constitution.

Gachagua has been impeached after 281 Members of Parliament (MPs) voted to send him packing on 11 counts of gross misconduct against 44 who voted against the impeachment motion while one member abstained.

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula is now expected to inform the Speaker of the Senate Amason Kingi of the resolution of the House within two days.

Consequently, within seven days after receiving notice of a resolution from the Speaker of the National Assembly, the Senate Speaker shall convene a meeting of the Senate to hear charges against the impeached Deputy President.

The Senate, by resolution, may appoint a special committee comprising eleven of its members to investigate the matter.

However, Gachagua shall continue to perform the functions of his office pending the outcome of the Senate proceedings.

Gachagua had put on a spirited defence against the accusations levelled against him but the August house had already resolved to send Gachagua parking.

A special committee appointed by the Senate shall investigate the matter; and report to the Senate within ten days whether it finds the particulars of the allegations against the Deputy President to have been substantiated.

The Deputy President shall have the right to appear and be represented before the special committee during its investigations.

If the special committee establishes that the particulars of any allegation have not been substantiated, further proceedings shall not be taken.

And if the allegations substantiated, the Senate shall, after according the Deputy President an opportunity to be heard, vote on the impeachment charges.

If at least two-thirds of all the members of the Senate vote to uphold any impeachment charge, the Deputy President shall cease to hold office.

Gachagua is the first Deputy President to be impeached under the 2010 Constitution.

Mutuse tabled the impeachment motion against Gachagua on October 1, 2024.