Kenya lawmakers vote to impeach Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua

Gachagua has been accused of corruption, insubordination, undermining the government and divisive politics.

Kenya's Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua — Kenya’s Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua speaks during a news conference, before lawmakers’ vote over his impeachment motion at his residence in Karen, Nairobi Kenya [File:Monicah Mwangi/Reuters]

Published On 8 Oct 20248 Oct 2024

Source: Reutter’s, Lawmakers in Kenya have voted to impeach Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua for abuse of office.

The impeachment motion on Tuesday accused the 59-year-old deputy to President William Ruto of corruption, insubordination, undermining the government and practising ethnically divisive politics, among a host of other charges

“According to the results … of the motion that I’ve just declared, a total of 281 members being more than two-thirds of the members of the National Assembly have voted in support of the motion,” Parliament Speaker Moses Wetang’ula said.

There were 44 votes against and one abstention, according to Wetangula.

Kimani Ichung’wah, parliament’s majority leader, said the deputy president had “violated not one, but eight provisions of our constitution”.