Public participation on Gachagua impeachment motion extended
By Amanga Collins, October 4, 2024
The National Assembly has extended the public participation period for the ongoing discussions regarding the impeachment motion against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
According to a communiqué issued by the Clerk of the National Assembly, Samuel Njoroge, the public hearings will continue on Saturday, October 5, 2024, to allow more citizens to share their views.
National Assembly ordered
“Noting that the High Court of Kenya sitting in Kerugoya acknowledged the public hearings of today, 4th October 2024, and further ordered that the National Assembly organize similar hearings closer to citizens, at least at the constituency level, to enable constituents of Members of Parliament responsible for the impeachment process nationally to engage and participate in hearings or any other suitable modes,” the statement from Njoroge read.
The extended participation sessions will take place at constituency offices and run from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
“NOW THEREFORE, It is notified to the general public that -(l) Further to the public participation exercise which commenced on 2nd October 2024, and the collection of views across the Venues and Constituency/County Women Representative Offices on 4th October 2024, the 290 Constituency Offices and 47 County Women Representative Offices of all Members of the National Assembly, which are offices under the Parliamentary Service Commission, shall remain open on Saturday, 5th October 2024 from 8.00 am to 5.00 pm to facilitate further public participation on the Special Motion,” he added.
The Clerk further clarified that the 290 Constituency Offices and 47 County Women Representative Offices across the country would remain open to facilitate this public participation.
Citizens can also submit their views by email or hand-delivered letters to the Office of the Clerk, with a submission deadline of 5:00 pm on Saturday, October 5, 2024.
A Public Views Template, which guides how to submit feedback, is available on the parliamentary website, as well as physical copies at all constituency and county offices.
This follows Speaker Moses Wetang’ula’s confirmation earlier in the week that the impeachment process against Deputy President Gachagua had met the necessary requirements to be tabled in the House. The motion was supported by over 117 MPs and spans nearly 100 pages.
Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse, who filed the motion, highlighted 11 grounds for impeachment. These include gross violation of the Constitution, making inflammatory statements that allegedly threaten discrimination in public service appointments, and resource allocation to certain regions.
Gachagua charges
Other charges include undermining the president’s directives, interfering with the Nairobi County government’s operations, and attacking Lady Justice Esther Maina, who presided over a case leading to the freezing of Ksh200 million linked to Gachagua.
Additionally, Mutuse accused the Deputy President of amassing Ksh5 billion in wealth during the Kenya Kwanza administration, with properties like the Outspan Hotel, Treetops Hotel, and Vipingo Beach Resort being among those allegedly acquired.
In his remarks, Mutuse insisted that he was fulfilling his role as an MP and had no personal grudge against the Deputy President, emphasizing the gravity of the charges raised.