Kenya’s Senate began debating the impeachment of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Wednesday after he lost another court bid to halt the proceedings.
The country’s Lower House of parliament had last week voted decisively to impeach Gachagua on 11 charges, including corruption and abuse of office, but the deputy president, who denies all allegations, will remain in his position until the Senate concludes whether to confirm his removal.
Although the Senate initially convened last week, the debate on the impeachment motion officially began on Wednesday behind closed doors, and the decision is expected to be announced on Thursday.
If the Senate approves his removal, Gachagua would become the first deputy president to be ousted in this way since impeachment was introduced in Kenya’s revised 2010 constitution.
Gachagua, withstood previous corruption scandals to become deputy leader as President William Ruto’s running mate in a closely fought election in August 2022.
However, he has complained of being sidelined by the president and was accused of supporting youth-led anti-government protests that broke out in June.
The embattled deputy president, who is accused of threatening a judge in his impeachment charges, had pinned his hopes on the judiciary.
His legal team has contended that the impeachment process was unfair and fast-tracked, however on Tuesday, a Kenyan High Court ruled against suspending Wednesday’s Senate session.
Another ruling by a separate High Court on Wednesday ruled against suspending the entire process, clearing the way for the Senate debate to proceed.
Meanwhile, President Ruto has not given any public comment on the impeachment, but Gachagua himself admitted the process could not proceed without the approval of the president.
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