All Senators Banned From Travelling Abroad During Gachagua Impeachment Hearing

Senators and members of staff in the Senate will not be allowed to travel outside the country for 12 days, starting Tuesday, October 8.

Senate Speaker Amason Kingi announced this in a letter sent to all senators dated October 8, further directing the lawmakers to ensure that none of their committees conduct all their activities outside Nairobi during that period.

This is as the Senate shifts its energy to the ongoing impeachment processes of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Kericho Governor Eric Mutai.

“As you are aware, the Senate has substantive upcoming business for consideration in the coming days. Given the gravity of these matters, it is paramount that we maintain a focused presence in the Senate,” the statement read in part.

A collage of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Parliament Buildings. /NTV.PARLIAMENT

“To this end, all travel by Honourable Senators and members of staff in the Senate outside the country have forthwith been put on hold. I also urge committees to put on hold activities outside Nairobi, effective today, Tuesday, 8th October, 2024 until, Saturday, 19th October, 2024.”

The directive, Kingi added, aims to ensure that all Senators can prioritise their participation in these important proceedings without distractions or disruptions.

The Senate is set to hear the impeachment motion against Gachagua on Wednesday and Thursday next week, and his fate will be decided in plenary in what will be a critical week for Gachagua’s political future.

The decision was made on Wednesday, October 9 during a special Senate session, convened to hear charges for the proposed removal from office, by impeachment, of Gachagua. This marks the first-ever impeachment proceeding against a sitting Deputy President in Kenya’s history.

A motion to form an 11-member committee to hear the charges against Gachagua failed to be seconded in the Senate. Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot tabled the motion and invited Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna to second it, but he declined.

“This is uncharted territory that the Senate is being invited to conduct the impeachment hearing of a Deputy President. Much as this is constitutional, it is the first time this is happening. I want to urge members to agree with me that we elect 11 of our wisest to read on our behalf and make a decision,” Cheruiyot said.

When called upon to second the motion, Senate Minority Whip Edwin Sifuna refused, stating, “This is a matter that is very unique and has elicited public attention. Therefore, given the mood of the house especially on the minority side, I respectfully decline to second that motion.” 

Following this, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi directed that the matter be heard in plenary and asked the senate clerk to send invitations to the deputy president and the National Assembly.

The decision also led the Senate Speaker to direct the Deputy President to file his responses by Monday, 5.00 PM.

Also expected to be addressed in the Senate in the next few weeks is the impeachment of Kericho County Governor Erick Mutai, with a plenary session scheduled for between October 14 and 15, 2024, after a motion to establish an 11-member special committee failed.

In a gazette notice dated October 7, Speaker Kingi announced that Governor Mutai’s impeachment hearing by a special senate sitting was scheduled to kick off at 2:30 pm, despite court orders obtained by Mutai barring them from acting on his impeachment.

On October 3, Mutai obtained a court order barring the Senate Speaker Amason Kingi from acting in any capacity to any resolution by Kericho County Members of County Assembly (MCAs) seeking to throw him out of office.