National Assembly speaker Moses Wetang’ula on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, told the Members of Parliament (MPs) that they cannot withdraw their signatures after appending them on special motions notice.
Wetang’ula revealed to the house that the Tetu MP Geoffrey Wandeto had expressed his interest in withdrawing his signature on the motion notice for the impeachment of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
“I have received a letter from Honourable Wandeto purporting to withdraw his signature. I want to invite the honourable member to read the standing orders that are very clear; once you append your signature to a special motion, you have crossed the Rubicon, and you cannot withdraw the signature,” Wetang’ula told the MPs.
This came after Wandeto said on October 4, 2024, that the charges against the Deputy President could be resolved through dialogue.
Wandeto is among the 291 MPs who appended their signatures on Gachagua’s impeachment motion notice tabled on the House floor on October 1, 2024, by Kibwezi West MP Eckomas Mutuse.
Gachagua to address Parliament
Gachagua is set to appear before Parliament’s plenary on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, to defend himself against the 11 grounds proposed for his removal from office.
This comes after Gachagua invited journalists to his Karen residence on Monday, October 7, 2024, and countered the allegations on live TV.
During the more than two-hour press conference, Gachagua indicated that he was ready to go the whole hog of the impeachment process, allaying speculations that he could resign.
“When I called this press conference, there was a lot of speculation that I wanted to resign. This is a man elected by 7.2 million Kenyans; how dare you suggest that he could do so without public participation? I have no intention whatsoever to resign from this job, and I will fight to the end,” Gachagua said during the televised presser.
Adding: “The impeachment of a Deputy President is not a trivial matter that can be swiftly decided by a few Members of Parliament and senators.”
He observed that he was willing to challenge the impending impeachment to the very end, expressing confidence in the judiciary to hand him a fair hearing.
“Kenya is a country of the rule of law. I have faith in our courts of law. We have competent men and women in our judiciary whom I believe will uphold the Constitution, protect it with their zeal, and always uphold and protect the will of the Kenyan people,” Gachagua said on October 6, 2024.
