281 MPs voted in favour of Gachagua’s impeachment, 44 voted against his impeachment while one abstained.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has been impeached by Members of the National Assembly.
281 MPs voted in favour of Gachagua’s impeachment (a figure that was way above the required 233 threshold), 44 voted to save the second in command while one abstained, bringing Gachagua ever closer to being impeached by Parliament as a whole.
The road to kicking out Gachagua, potentially the first time in the history of the Republic of Kenya, began following the introduction of a Special Motion by Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse.
It outlined 11 charges against the Deputy President, including gross violation of the Constitution, undermining the President and the Cabinet, undermining Devolution, and compromising judicial independence by publicly attacking a judge.
A bird’s eye view of Parliament as of June 6, 2024. /PARLIAMENT OF KENYA
Additional accusations included making inciteful statements, committing economic crimes, spreading false, malicious, divisive, and inciteful remarks, publicly insubordinating the President, and persistently bullying State and public officers.
Before the vote, Deputy President Gachagua appeared before the National Assembly where he defended himself against the allegations for about two hours. He dismissed the claims as “outrageous and baseless propaganda” aimed at tarnishing his reputation and removing him from office.
Gachagua condemned the impeachment proceedings, calling them the “most shameful act” in the history of the House, asserting that legislators were attempting to oust a democratically elected leader based on fabrications.