The impeachment trial against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua took an unexpected halt on Thursday after the DP failed to show up during the afternoon session.
Gachagua was scheduled to take the stand in the afternoon session.
However, his legal team, led by Senior Counsel Paul Muite, said they had received information that the DP has been taken ill and is currently admitted to the hospital.
"The sad reality is that the DP has been taken ill and is currently in hospital. That is the sad reality," Muite said.
Muite requested the Senate Speaker Amason Kingi to provide his legal team time to monitor the progress of the DP
"My proposal is that you give me the rest of the day to have an assessment of the DP situation and come back by 5 pm after seeing him and speaking to the doctor," Muite said.
The Senate has since suspended the impeachment trial against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua until 5 pm.
Senate Speaker Amason Kingi made the announcement after Gachagua’s lawyer, Paul Muite, said the DP had fallen ill and was in hospital.
"We will suspend this sitting and resume at exactly 5 pm. We expect the Deputy President then to take the witness stand at 5 pm. This is a time-bound process, unfortunately," Kingi said.
According to the Senate Speaker, the trial is a time-bound process.
"Given that an impeachment trial is a time-bound process, there were two likely options out of the situation the House found itself in: proceed with the trial without further reference to the accused, or push the hearing to a later date to give Mr Gachagua another chance to testify," Kingi ruled.
The impeachment hearing began on Wednesday at the Senate after the National Assembly approved the motion last week. It is expected to 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.