Senate Speaker Amason Kingi has cautioned Senators against publicly commenting on Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s impeachment motion.
Speaking on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, at the Senate during the proceedings, Kingi said that comments on the merits or demerits of the impeachment motion will amount to anticipation of the debate which is an infringement of the Senate’s standing order.
Additionally, the Speaker stated that making written or verbal comments about the conduct of Gachagua or the impeachment process may prejudice the just outcome of the debate.
He went on to say that such comments not only prejudice the impeachment proceedings but also constitute gross disorderly conduct within the Senate’s standing orders.
“I wish to caution all the honourable Senators to desist from publicly commenting on the merits or demerits of the impeachment motion doing so will amount to anticipation of the debate which is an infringement of Standing Order 99 of the Senate,” Kingi said.
“Honourable senators to make it clear it shall constitute gross disorderly conduct within the meaning of Standing Order 122 for a senator to make comments whether written or spoken in relation to the conduct of the Deputy President or the impeachment process which is outside the confines of the impeachment proceedings as such comments may prejudice the just outcome of this matter.”
Kingi further urged the senators to stay true to the oath of office during the proceedings adding that Gachagua’s impeachment motion is unique, historical and unprecedented.
“This impeachment is unique and unprecedented as it is the first ever to propose the removal of office by impeachment of the deputy president of the Republic of Kenya. This is yet another opportunity for the Senate to demonstrate its fidelity to the Constitution and to live up to its reputation,” he added.
“I urge all senators to stay true to the oath of office and exercise the highest level of responsibility on this particular matter.”
Gachagua’s impeachment
On Tuesday, October 8, 2024, the National Assembly approved a motion to impeach Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua after 281 of the Members of Parliament voted against him, effectively setting the ball rolling to the Senate.
Out of the 326 MPs who participated in the vote, 281 voted to impeach Gachagua, with only 44 voting to save the deputy president from the 11 charges he faced. There was one abstention.
“The result of the division of the motion is as follows: Abstentions-one, the NOs-44, the Ayes-281. So the ayes have it,” Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula declared.
