Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s office has dismissed reports circulating that he has organised a press conference this evening Tuesday, October 15, 2024.
In a statement on Tuesday, the head of the Deputy President’s Communications Service Njeri Rugene flagged the notice as fake.
This came after High Court judge Chacha Mwita ruled against Gachagua’s petition seeking to stop the Senate from hearing his impeachment on Wednesday, October 16-17, 2024.
Gachagua’s defence team
In his prayer, Gachagua, through his lead counsel Paul Muite challenged the legality of the process of impeachment as well as the figures presented as the result of the public participation exercise.
The judge stated that the courts would have to let the impeachment matter run its course and only be available to hear and determine issues arising from the outcome of the process.
The ruling aligned with an order issued by Senate speaker Amason Kingi on Monday, October 14, 2024, stating that the courts can never effect an injunction on a matter before the Senate.
Previous press conference
On the eve of his appearance in Parliament to defend himself against the 11 charges, Gachagua had called a press conference at his official Karen residence where he challenged the issues.
The National Assembly, however, was slighted by Gachagua’s decision to hold the presser, where he appeared to have referred to the house as a theatre of the absurd.
During his appearance in the National Assembly, Gachagua clarified the matter and apologised. 282 MPs still voted in support of his impeachment against a threshold of 233.
The MPs, who originated the impeachment motion, levelled 11 charges against Gachagua including gross misconduct, gross violation of the constitution and any other law and suspicious accumulation of wealth.
Gachagua has since availed a truckload of evidence at the Parliament buildings in readiness for a cross-examination scheduled on Thursday, October 17, 2024.
Senate will hear the impeachment motion on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, before making a decision the next day on Thursday when the deputy president will be allowed to appear in person.
In a record 29 cases, seeking to stop Wednesday’s impeachment hearings, Gachagua also seeks orders to restrain President William Ruto from appointing a deputy president in the event that he is impeached by the Senate.
Among the politicians whose names have been floated as potential replacements for Gachagua are Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki, Kirinyaga Governor Ann Waiguru and Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata.