On Tuesday evening, Kenyan representatives approved the removal of Vice President Rigathi Gachagwa, who is particularly accused of corruption, in an unprecedented step that still needs to be approved in the Senate and represents a new chapter in the months-long conflict between the president and his vice president.
The Presidency of Parliament said – in a statement – that 282 members out of the 349 deputies that make up the National Assembly, that is, more than a two-thirds majority, agreed to remove Gachagua.
The statement explained that 44 deputies voted against the removal of the Vice President, while only one deputy abstained from voting.
“According to the results of the motion I just announced, a total of 282 members, or more than two-thirds of the members of the National Assembly, voted in favor of the motion,” Parliament Speaker Moses Wetangula said.
The Senate will now hear the accusations and may appoint a special committee to investigate them, where Gachagwa or his representative can respond.
To remove Gachagua, at least 45 senators, or two-thirds of the 67 members of the Senate, must vote for the decision to take effect.
Gachagua defends himself
Supported by a team of about 20 lawyers, Gachagua defended himself before deputies for nearly two hours on Tuesday evening, relying on a 500-page document.
The Vice President rejected the accusations against him, considering them “pure propaganda” and “a conspiracy aimed at removing me from power for other political considerations.” Ruto has not commented publicly on the impeachment proceedings.
Gachagwa urged lawmakers to “examine their conscience” before voting. “If you search your conscience and listen to the issues raised and find that there are no grounds to remove the Vice President of Kenya, please make the right decision,” he added.
Gachagwa supported President William Ruto in his victory in the 2022 elections, and helped secure a large bloc of votes from the densely populated central Kenya region.
But in recent months, the deputy president has spoken of being sidelined, amid widespread reports in local media that he has fallen out with Ruto as political alliances shift; The president dismissed most of his cabinet and appointed members of the main opposition following nationwide protests over unpopular tax increases in June and July that left more than 50 dead and wounded.
The proposal submitted a week ago by a member of the presidential coalition (Kenya Kwanzaa) lists 11 reasons for the removal of the vice president, including “undermining national unity,” “disobeying” the president’s directives, and suspicions of committing “economic crimes” such as embezzlement of public funds, conflicts of interest, and abuse. Use of power.
Kimani Echongwah, parliament’s majority leader, said the 59-year-old politician, referring to Gachagwa, “violated not one, but 8 provisions of our constitution.”
At one point during the proceedings, Echongwah led lawmakers in a chant of “Rigathi must go,” calling him “a great danger to our nation, a great danger to the unity of our republic.”
