By Divine Sam
The Kenyan Senate has impeached Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, marking a historic first in the country. The vote took place despite his lawyer’s request for a postponement due to Gachagua being hospitalized shortly before the proceedings.
Senate Speaker Amason Kingi had given Gachagua a deadline to appear, but he was absent during the vote, which led to at least 53 senators supporting the impeachment on five counts out of eleven charges against him. The charges included issues related to shareholding, undermining judicial independence, and gross misconduct regarding public statements against the national intelligence service.
The motion to oust him received strong support, with 281 MPs in favor and only 44 against, while one MP abstained from voting.