Kenya’s Deputy President, Rigathi Gachagua, missed his impeachment hearing on Thursday due to a serious illness that required hospitalization, according to his lawyer.
Gachagua was expected to appear before the Senate to respond to 11 charges against him. However, his lawyer, Paul Muite, informed the Senate that Gachagua was too ill to attend and requested a postponement until the following Tuesday.
Despite this, the Senate voted to proceed with the impeachment process as scheduled. The Senate is expected to hold a vote on the impeachment motion on Thursday evening.
Last week, the National Assembly voted in favor of Gachagua’s impeachment. Although he played a significant role in securing President William Ruto’s electoral victory two years ago, Gachagua has faced criticism from Ruto’s allies for alleged disloyalty and controversial public remarks.
Senate Speaker Amason Kingi paused the hearing, giving Gachagua until 5:00 PM local time to appear. Gachagua has previously dismissed the impeachment as a politically motivated attack based on falsehoods.
President Ruto, who has reportedly had tensions with Gachagua in recent months, has not yet commented on the matter. Political analysts caution that Gachagua’s removal could provoke public outrage and prompt calls for similar action against the president.
Many Kenyans view the impeachment as a politically driven distraction from pressing issues, including the recent anti-tax protests, which underscored widespread discontent with the government.
The charges against Gachagua include accusations of inciting ethnic tensions and acquiring over $40 million in assets since assuming office, despite his previous net worth being estimated at $6 million. His legal team contends that there is no credible evidence to support these allegations.
If two-thirds of the Senate votes in favor of the impeachment, Gachagua could become the first Kenyan leader removed from office under the 2010 constitution.
