Senate Speaker Amason Kingi has thrown out an objection raised by embattled Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s legal team to bar Siaya Governor James Orengo from representing the National Assembly in the impeachment hearing.
In his argument, Speaker Kingi noted that Gachagua’s legal team failed to prove that Orengo’s appearance for the National Assembly would prejudice them.
“Having analysed the preliminary objections raised and the reason I have given, the preliminary objection raised for the appearance for the National Assembly for Senior Counsel James Orengo is hereby dismissed,” Kingi stated.
Kingi further explained that Gachagua’s legal team failed to prove claims of gainful employment in regards to Orengo’s appearance for the National Assembly.
“The learned counsel for the Deputy President did not deduce evidence to prove indeed the allegation of gainful employment,” he added.
Lawyer Ndegwa Njiru had argued that Orengo was a state officer serving as a first-term governor and past decisions made by the house have squashed attempts of public officers to represent clients in the house due to conflict of interest.
“Governor James Orengo is a full-time serving state officer as per Article 260 of the constitution which bars a full-time state officer from engaging in meaningful employment. It would be prejudicial for this house to allow Orengo to represent the National Assembly in these proceedings,” he said.