Intense lobbying is underway across the political spectrum as the Senate prepares for the impeachment hearing of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday next week. The two sides are reaching out to undecided senators, seeking to secure the crucial two-thirds majority, while Gachagua’s allies are working to prevent their opponents from reaching the 45-senator threshold.
Senate Speaker Amason Kingi has already set the dates for the hearing and voting. In an official notice, Kingi stated: “Pursuant to Standing Order 78 (9) and Rule 3 of Part 1 of the Second Schedule to the Senate Standing Orders, I appoint Wednesday, 16th October, 2024, as the date for the commencement of the hearing. The hearing will take place in the Senate Chamber at Parliament Buildings, Nairobi, beginning at 10:00 a.m. and concluding on Thursday, 17th October, 2024.”
He also directed that all parties submit their responses to the Office of the Clerk of the Senate by Monday, 14th October, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. Additionally, Kingi outlined several procedural requirements that must be fulfilled before the debate begins on Wednesday, including issuing an invitation to Mr. Gachagua and circulating relevant documents, such as the plenary hearing schedule, to all senators.
The Senate will proceed with a plenary investigation after Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna declined to second Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot’s motion to form a special committee to investigate the case. Kingi confirmed, “The proposal for a Special Committee is defeated, and the Senate will now investigate the Deputy President’s impeachment in plenary.”
In a further directive, Kingi prohibited senators from travelling abroad until the motion was resolved. Gachagua, meanwhile, is counting on support from a group of loyal senators, especially from his Mount Kenya base and Wiper Party members. In late August, he met with 11 Mount Kenya senators who initially pledged support, but several have since distanced themselves from him, backing Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki instead. Of the 67 senators, 34 are aligned with President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza Alliance, while 32 are with Azimio, and Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah was elected on an NRA ticket. A potential coalition of Azimio’s 21 senators and 30 government-aligned senators could result in 51 votes in favour of impeachment—six more than the required threshold.
However, senators from Ukambani, including Makueni Senator Daniel Maanzo, Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua, Machakos Senator Agnes Kavindu, and nominated Senator Shakilla Abdalla, are less likely to support the motion. Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka has expressed a commitment to scrutinize the charges, emphasizing impartiality carefully. At the same time, Omtatah has stated that Gachagua should be censured rather than impeached, suggesting the timing of the motion distracts from other pressing national issues.
