Kenyans have been glued to their TV
sets for days watching the drama
around the impeachment of Deputy
President Rigathi Gachagua.
The removal from office has been controversial and expensive and time-consuming.
Parliament went out of its way to conduct a public participation process in which millions of shillings were spent. Lawyers continue to argue as to whether the public vote was relevant or even had the power of law.
Even Parliament cannot indicate what the results were meant to achieve. A running mate is selected by a presidential nominee.
If anything can be learnt from the Rigathi experience, it is that the process of sacking a DP must be given a thorough look with a view to making the process easier and cost-effective.
Legal experts reviewing the constitution or political process should shift the removal of the deputy to an internal party matter which parties have the capacity to resolve because, after all, no one ever votes for a DP.
The law can also empower political parties to pick the running mate, so it stops being the whim of an individual handed the party ticket.
Our economy is too fragile to be subjected to relentless political TV drama at the expense of pressing issues of national importance.
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HISTORICAL QUOTE
“You don’t fight racism with racism, the best way to fight racism is with solidarity.”
BOBBY SEALE
The American activist was born on October 22, 1936