Deputy
Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu now says that the ongoing impeachment of Deputy
President Rigathi Gachagua is not a unique process.
In
a video seen by the Star, Mwilu said this is because it is a process laid out
in the Constitution of Kenya, with a systemic way of doing it.
“The
impeachment process that is ongoing regarding our Deputy President is not
unique. It's an application of the Constitution. It is not something that has
been plugged from the air, it has a constitutional process to follow and
therefore to that extent it is constitutional,” she said.
Mwilu
comments come after remarks by analysts that the DPs impeachment is a unique
process for the country.
They
have largely based their arguments on the fact that it is the first time there
is an impeachment motion against a sitting deputy president.
The
Deputy CJ noted that if the case gets to the Judiciary, it will be handled in
the manner prescribed by the Constitution.
She
said that the Judiciary cannot go outside the law in its decision on the
matter.
“If
it comes to court after Senate, we don’t know what it is, we cannot anticipate
the outcome, it will be handled by we who sit in the Judiciary in the manner
the Constitution has authorised us to do and in the manner the law has authorised
us to do. We cannot go outside the Constitution or the law,” Mwilu added.
The
impeachment hearing began on Wednesday at the Senate after the National
Assembly approved the motion last week. It will end today.
Gachagua
is facing 11 charges, including gross violation of the constitution and laws,
corruption and bullying among others.
To
remove the DP from office, at least 45 senators out of the total 67 are
required to approve.
The impeachment trial continues Thursday with cross-examinations and re-examination of witnesses.