By Antynet Ford
Senate Speaker Amason Kingi has convened a sitting to hear the charges against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua after he was impeached by the National Assembly.
In a gazette notice, Kingi noted that the Senate will convene on today at 9:30 a.m. to hear the charges against Gachagua.
“According to Article 145 (3) (a) of the Constitution and Standing Order 78 (1) of the Senate Standing Orders, I appoint the sitting of the Senate of Wednesday, 9th October 2024, at 9:00 a.m. as the sitting convened to hear the charges in the matter of the proposed removal from office, by impeachment, of Rigathi Gachagua, Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya.” The gazette notice read in part.
The DP Gachagua was impeached on Tuesday on grounds of money laundering and gross misconduct, among other allegations.
The mover of the motion, Kibwezi West MP Mutuse Mwengi listed 11 grounds against Gachagua, including allegations of illegal acquisition of wealth valued at Ksh5.2 billion over the last two years.
The motion was supported by 281 Members of Parliament, opposed by 44, and 1 member abstained.
After more than two-thirds of MPs voted in support of the motion, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula stated that he would notify his counterpart at the senate.
“In this regard, I’ll proceed to discharge the similar duty placed on me by Article 145 (2b) of the Constitution under which to notify the Speaker of the Senate of the resolution of the National Assembly.”
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According to the constitution, the National Assembly Speaker should notify the Senate of the decision within two days.
At the Senate, the Senators can decide to appoint a committee to hear the charges or go the plenary way, where Gachagua will defend himself in front of all Senators.
If more than two-thirds, or 45 members, vote to impeach him, the deputy resident will cease to hold office.