Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua will face the entire Senate after a motion to set up an 11-member special committee to handle his impeachment failed on Wednesday, October 9, 2024.
The motion that was moved by Kericho County senator and Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot did not get a seconder.
Senate Majority Leader @Aaroncheruiyot (Kericho): I urge Members to agree with me that we elect 11 of our wisest and most trusted Senators from both sides of the House to consider this Motion. #SenateLive pic.twitter.com/FTfv9R4riH
— Senate of Kenya (@Senate_KE) October 9, 2024
Cheruiyot invited Nairobi county senator Edwin Sifuna to second his motion, but the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary General declined instead.
“Hon Speaker as you have indicated in your communication indeed this is a matter that is extremely unique, that has elicited immense public attention and therefore Hon Speaker given the mood of the house and especially on the minority side, I respectively decline to second that motion,” Sifuna stated.
Sen. @edwinsifuna declines to second the motion by the Majority Leader @Aaroncheruiyot for the establishment of a special committee to investigate the proposed removal from office by impeachment, of the Deputy President H.E. Rigathi Gachagua.
— Senate of Kenya (@Senate_KE) October 9, 2024
The matter will be heard in plenary pic.twitter.com/HCuYJEabnU
According to the Senate Standing Orders, any motion that is not seconded shall be deemed to have been withdrawn and shall not be moved again in the same session.
Senate Speaker Amason Kingi ruled that the proposal for a special committee had been defeated, announcing that the Senate would proceed with the investigation on the proposed removal from office by impeachment, of DP Gachagua in plenary.
“You will note that the Senate Majority Leader has moved a motion, the motion has however, failed to get a seconder, Standing Order 70 of the Senate Standing Orders states that the question on any motion shall not be proposed unless it shall have been seconded and any motion that is not seconded shall be deemed to have been withdrawn and shall not be moved again in the same session,” Kingi stated.
“The motion having been deemed to be withdrawn, pursuant to SO 70 (1) the proposal for a special committee is defeated. The Senate will therefore proceed with the investigation on the proposed removal from office by impeachment, of H.E Rigathi Gachagua in plenary. In line with the schedule of activities of an impeachment hearing in plenary, the Senate shall investigate the matter in plenary on the 16th & 17th October, 2024.”
MPs impeach Gachagua
A total of 281 Members of Parliament (MPs) on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, voted to impeach Gachagua, while 44 backed him and one abstained.
MPs broke into song and dance shortly after National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula made the announcement at 9.20 pm.
The 59-year-old politician who rose to a DP after one term as an MP had dramatically fallen out with his boss, President William Ruto.
Gachagua faced 11 counts of impeachment revolving around gross violation of the Constitution, abuse of office and corruption.
The National Assembly had given Gachagua time to defend himself against the accusations, prior to the voting that saw him ousted as DP.
