Rigathi Gachagua’s lawyers walked out of the Senate in protest to the senators’ move to continue with the hearing in the absence of the Deputy President.
Gachagua did not avail himself for cross-examination on Thursday, October 17, 2024, with his lawyer, Paul Muite, revealing that the DP was taken ill and admitted at Karen Hospital.
Senate Speaker Amason Kingi delivered a ruling stating that the DP should appear at 5 PM, but again the former Mathira Member of Parliament did not come. Muite told the Senate that Gachagua had been admitted with chest pains and could not appear for the grilling session.
The former Kabete MP asked the senate to postpone the impeachment hearing, but Kingi asked the senators to vote on whether to resume on Saturday for the impeachment trial.
“The request for adjournment is not made to the Speaker but to the Senate and is accordingly a matter for the Senate to determine. I direct the clerk of the Senate to circulate a supplementary order paper incorporating a notice motion and a motion for adjournment sought,” Kingi said as he directed the senators to vote and decide.
Senate’s decision
After the Senate voted to continue with the hearing, Muite led his fellow lawyers from the DP’s camp out in a demonstration against the decision.
“Arising from the decision of the Senate, we as the legal team representing the DP are not able to continue appearing without instructions. We therefore take our leave,” Muite said.
Lawyer Ndegwa Njiru also added his voice in support of their decision to walk out.
“We shall be perpetuating an illegality if we were to sit in parliament without instructions from our client,” Ndegwa Njiru told the press outside the Senate building.
Kiambu County Senator Karungo Thang’wa, Gachagua‘s vocal supporter in the ongoing trial, questioned why the Senate is in a hurry to conclude the hearing.
“What is the rush with the Senate? Why do you want to conclude this issue today with the absence of the DP who is the accused? Those who have been given the closing remarks are MPs; they have taken over the Senate. It is a sad day for this country,” Thang’wa said.