Senate Prepares for Rigathi Gachagua’s High-Stakes Impeachment Hearing Amid Corruption Allegations

By THE DISPATCH DIGITAL REPORTER

The Senate is set to take centre stage in the political storm surrounding Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, with Speaker Amason Kingi confirming that the upper house has officially received the necessary documentation regarding Gachagua’s impeachment. In a Gazette Notice dated Wednesday, October 9, Kingi outlined that the Senate will convene at 9:30 a.m. on the same day to commence the hearing of the charges against the embattled Deputy President.

Kingi’s notice follows a decisive move by the National Assembly, where a staggering 281 MPs voted in favour of the impeachment motion, far surpassing the constitutional threshold of 233. Now, the Senate, acting as the trial house, will determine the fate of President William Ruto’s principal assistant.

The Senate must now decide whether the case will be heard by a special committee or through a plenary session, with all 47 senators involved in the proceedings. A total of 26 sets of documents and evidence have been sent to the Senate by the Clerk of the National Assembly, Samuel Njoroge, including electronic evidence, public advertisements, and the Deputy President’s own responses to the accusations.

The impeachment motion was initiated by Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse, who laid out 11 charges against Gachagua, including undermining devolution, violating the Constitution, undermining the President, accumulating wealth irregularly, promoting ethnic divisions, and attacking a judge. These charges painted a damning picture of the Deputy President’s alleged misconduct, with accusations of corruption and insubordination at the heart of the matter.

Despite being given the opportunity to defend himself in the National Assembly, Gachagua’s plea swayed only 10 MPs to reverse their initial votes, with the vast majority standing firm in their decision to support his removal from office.

Now, all eyes are on the Senate, which has been tasked with either saving Gachagua from impeachment or delivering the final blow to his political career. Minority Leader Edwin Sifuna made it clear that the case has captured significant public interest and, after refusing to second a motion to utilise a committee for the hearing, left the Senate with no choice but to opt for a plenary process. This means all senators will hear the case against Gachagua, before tabling a report and casting their votes.

Speaker Kingi has directed Gachagua to file his responses by Monday at 5:00 p.m., ahead of what promises to be a high-stakes political showdown in the Senate next week. Whether the Deputy President can weather this storm or face impeachment remains to be seen, but one thing is certain—the nation is watching closely.