Kenyan deputy president faces impeachment after court ruling

The decision came after the National Assembly voted on Tuesday to impeach Gachagua on 11 charges, including corruption, undermining the government, and inciting ethnic hatred.

Gachagua has strongly denied all the allegations, describing the impeachment motion as a politically motivated attack.

According to court documents seen by Reuters, Gachagua claimed the charges were based on lies and aimed at orchestrating a “political lynching.”

Despite his appeal to the Supreme Court, Judge Erick Ogolla ruled that the impeachment process could continue. “At this stage, the process is legal and constitutional.

The Senate will conduct a trial where all the issues raised before the court will be addressed and determined accordingly,” the judge stated.

Gachagua was President William Ruto’s running mate in their successful 2022 election campaign, playing a crucial role in securing votes from Kenya’s populous central region.

However, the relationship between the two has soured, and political alliances have shifted in the aftermath.

In response to widespread protests earlier this year against tax hikes, which led to the deaths of more than 50 people, President Ruto dismissed most of his cabinet and appointed opposition figures in what he termed a “government of unity.”

The impeachment motion, which requires a two-thirds majority in the Senate to pass, has created a tense political atmosphere in the country.

If the Senate votes in favor, Gachagua would become the first vice president to be impeached since the 2010 Kenyan constitution introduced the process.

The Senate began closed-door debates on the impeachment on Wednesday, with a decision expected today. If the motion is approved, it would mark a significant moment in Kenya’s political history.