Here is what you need to know to get up to speed with today’s happenings.
Gachagua’s impeachment hearing
The hearing of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s impeachment case at the Senate is one of the top news events to look out for today.
The Senate will commence the hearing of the DP’s impeachment case in plenary today Wednesday, October 16, 2024.
According to the hearing programme, the Senate will first hold a pre-hearing meeting for senators in a closed-door session between 9 am and 10 am.
On the preliminary list is the recital of the mandate of the Senate, Rules of Procedure, and Hearing Programme. Members of the National Assembly representing the National Assembly and their counsel, if any, will then be introduced between 10 am and 10:30 am.
DP Gachagua and the counsel representing him will then be introduced between 10.30 am and 11.00 am
Charges against DP Gachagua will be read between 11:00 am and 11:30 am, with an opening statement on behalf of the National Assembly being allocated 30 minutes.
The opening statement on behalf of the Deputy President has also been allocated 30 minutes.
Between 12:00 noon and 1.00 pm, there will be evidence by the National Assembly, which comprises evidence of witnesses, cross-examination, and re-examination. The Senate has allocated a total of 3 hours for the evidence of the National Assembly and a total of 2 hours for cross-examination.
The house will then break for lunch between 1:00 pm and 2.30 pm before resuming for an afternoon session that will see the continuation of evidence by the National Assembly between 2:30 pm and 6:30 pm.
There will then be questions or requests for clarification by senators between 6:30 pm and 7:30 pm, before the adjournment of the house on day one.
Gachagua, who is at odds with President William Ruto, faces 11 charges, including gross violation of the Constitution, gross misconduct and abuse of office.
Three-judge bench ruling
As DP Gachagua heads to the Senate for the hearing of his impeachment, a three-judge bench of the High Court is today Wednesday, October 16, 2024, at 8 am, expected to deliver a ruling on whether the Senate will proceed with the DP’s impeachment.
This follows a day-long court battle by Gachagua’s legal team to stop the impeachment proceedings scheduled for today.
On Tuesday, October 15, a three-judge bench presided over by Justice Erick Ogola and comprising of Justices Anthony Mrima and Freda Mugambi, listened to an application by Gachagua’s lead counsel, Senior Counsel Paul Muite, to halt the impeachment proceedings in the Senate.
The bench empanelled by Chief Justice Martha Koome consolidated all six matters into one, with parties expected to file their submissions by Wednesday at 8 am.
There are a total of 10 petitioners, 8 respondents, and 3 interested parties in the matter, where Gachagua is seeking to stop the Senate from the second leg of his impeachment on Wednesday and Thursday.
