Kehinde Fajobi
Kenya’s Senate is set to vote Thursday on whether to remove Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua from office, marking the climax of an unprecedented political drama.
This comes after a historic impeachment vote in the National Assembly, where Gachagua faced 11 charges, including corruption, insubordination, and promoting ethnically divisive politics.
The 59-year-old, known as “Riggy G”, has consistently denied the accusations. He arrived at parliament just before the Senate session opened and is expected to defend himself later. Despite his denials and the absence of criminal charges, Gachagua would be automatically removed if the Senate votes for impeachment.
In his defence, Gachagua has labelled the charges as “nonsensical allegations”, accusing his opponents of “political deceit, conmanship, and betrayal.”
Speaking to his supporters in central Kenya, he urged peace regardless of the outcome, saying, “Kenya is our country.”
The impeachment trial in the Senate followed a National Assembly vote on October 9, where 282 out of 349 MPs supported his removal. In the Senate, only two-thirds of the members need to support one charge for the motion to succeed.
Potential successors include Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, and Governor Anne Waiguru.
Gachagua’s supporters argue the process has been unfair, but legal efforts to halt the trial have been unsuccessful.
While President William Ruto has remained silent, Gachagua suggested the impeachment could not have progressed without the president’s approval.
If the Senate votes to impeach, Gachagua could become the first deputy president removed under the 2010 constitution, though he may contest the decision in court.