What next for DP after impeachment by MPs

At least 281 MPs on Tuesday voted to impeach Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. Speaker Moses Wetangula called the vote after only 44 of the required 117 MPs voted to save the DP.

The vote followed a protracted debate as the motion movers and opposers battled. With the vote, the motion now moves to the Senate, which the Constitution treats as the trial house.

Prior to the vote, MPs from across the political divide put a case against the deputy president, tearing into the defence that he laid before the House.

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.

Mutuse preferred 11 charges, upon which MPs voted to send President William Ruto’s principal assistant packing.

The 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.

Only 233 MPs were needed to support the motion for Gachagua to stand impeached.

“The House will resume tomorrow morning, Wednesday, October 9, 2024, at 9.30 am to resume the regular business as scheduled by the House Business Committee," Speaker Moses Wetangula said.

Earlier, the DP was given a chance to defend himself against all the accusations levelled against him in the motion. The besieged DP said he had full trust that the legislators would make the right decision.