Kenyan senate impeaches Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in unprecedented move

In a landmark decision, the Kenyan Senate has voted to impeach Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, making him the first deputy president to be removed from office under the 2010 constitutional reforms.

During Thursday’s session, Gachagua was found guilty of five out of eleven charges, including corruption, money laundering, insubordination, ethnic divisiveness, and undermining the government.

Gachagua’s impeachment follows a similar vote in the National Assembly, where a motion to remove him was overwhelmingly passed. Despite his denial of the accusations, Gachagua was unable to testify due to hospitalization from severe chest pains. His legal team’s request for an adjournment was rejected, leading them to walk out in protest.

Political analysts suggest the impeachment may have broader implications, potentially increasing scrutiny on President William Ruto, with whom Gachagua had a strained relationship. Gachagua has called the impeachment a “political lynching” as Kenya faces economic challenges and political unrest.