At least two double-cabin pickup trucks full of carton boxes, on Monday, October 14, 2024, arrived at the parliament buildings to deliver National Assembly’s evidence in Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s impeachment case.
A 20-minute video that was streamed on Parliament of Kenya’s official Facebook account showed two double-cabin pickups, a black and a white one, parked in front of the parliament buildings, with the parliament staff standing next to them ready to offload the evidence.
The carton boxes are seen in a subsequent video stream, being offloaded and placed at the Senate entrance, awaiting to be received by the Senate Clerk.
Gachagua’s date with Senate
The National Assembly has submitted its evidence two days prior to DP Gachagua’s scheduled appearance in the Senate.
Gachagua is slated to appear before the Senate on Wednesday, October 16, 2024. and Thursday, October 17, where he will have the opportunity to present his witnesses.
Gachagua will also be defended by a flurry of lawyers in a plenary session involving all the 47 senators.
The Senate will either save Gachagua or impeach him by upholding the decision of the National Assembly.
Gachagua banks on courts
However, DP Gachagua over the weekend appeared to have surrendered his fate to the courts, expressing confidence they would save him from the verdict of lawmakers.
Speaking in Embu during a church service on Sunday, October 13, 2024, Gachagua beseeched the Judiciary to assert the will of the people over the whims of politicians.
“I am a believer in the independence of the Judiciary. I am certain the courts will exercise judicial authority, and protect and uphold the Constitution and the will of the people. Our Judiciary is efficient. They (judicial officers) protect the Constitution, and rule of law and always ensure the will of the people is respected. I have confidence that the rule of law will prevail and the will of people will be upheld,” Gachagua said.
Gachagua’s replacement
Article 149(1) of the 2010 Constitution of Kenya gives the President 14 days to nominate a Deputy President replacement in the event of a vacancy, after which the National Assembly has 60 days to vote on the nominee.
Opinion polls have since fronted several names as possible DP replacements should Gachagua get removed from office by impeachment.
Among those that have been talked about are Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki, Kirinyaga county governor Anne Waiguru and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, with former Prime Minister Raila Odinga featuring in the latest poll.