On Tuesday, local newspapers carried reports on the plight of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who is now at risk of being ousted from his powerful office by impeachment.
Source: UGC
A newspaper revealed the efforts of associates of the vice president to contact the President William Ruto to save him (Gachagua).
1. The Standard
The Standard newspaper reported that members from the office of the vice president have been coming to the president to discuss the privileges and benefits of the former president if he decides to resign.
Sources inside the White House said that DP representatives wanted to be guaranteed certain privileges, including security and VIP treatment, in exchange for resigning before the Senate hearing and vote on Thursday, October 17.
If Gachagua is removed before completing half of his term with Ruto, he will lose his right to all the privileges of the DP office.
Other benefits include a four-wheeler with an engine capacity not exceeding 3000 cc, fuel allowance equal to 15 percent of his monthly salary, security officers, monthly pension equal to 80 percent of his last salary, payment of lump sum retirement, and two saloon cars with an engine capacity not exceeding 2000cc, to be replaced every four years.
Gachagua also wants his VIP security and treatment details, including access to VIP sections at airports and important government facilities, to be taken care of.
The Standard learned that the DP team did not meet the president, but instead, his supervisors to whom they left their requests.
“The President has been informed about the requests of his deputy. I am not sure if he will answer them directly or through the same members,” a source revealed to the newspaper.
2. Daily Nation
The daily newspaper reported how the clock is ticking for the vice president who is now watching the trial in the Senate.
The high court scheduled a hearing for Gachagua on Wednesday, October 16 and Thursday, October 17.
The deputy president who, among other things, was accused of abuse of power, making inflammatory statements, corruption and undermining the government, was dismissed by 282 MPs on October 8.
The National Assembly and Gachagua's team have presented many evidence documents in the Senate before the case begins to be heard, where the witnesses appointed by the national assembly will be questioned to give their accounts that support his accusation.
At the same time, the Senate has said that the court will not interfere in its affairs.
Speaker Amason Kingi said court orders will not prevent the Senate from prosecuting Gachagua.
The deputy president has many complaints in court against the process of dismissing him.
“The issue of the effect of any court orders directing the Senate to do no business is well settled. In this matter, the resolution is the same regardless of the position issued by the County Legislature. Whether it was present or not. , the court order in this matter is of no consequence. are the same, which is that Parliament cannot be prevented from performing its constitutional duties by a court order,” Kingi said.
Kingi's statement came shortly after the Chief Justice Martha Koome to assemble a bench of three judges to hear and determine the issues in the cases against the removal of Gachagua.
Koome's move came a few days after High Court judge Lawrence Mugambi referred the matter to him, noting that the petition raised constitutional questions of great public interest that deserved the consideration of a three-judge bench.
3. Nation Today
The newspaper highlighted the new face of the opposition in Kenya without veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga.
In August, Raila announced that he would leave local politics to focus on his ambition to become the next chairman of the African Union Commission (AUC).
In Raila's absence, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka will take over the leadership of Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition, the official opposition party.
The former vice president has been increasing his position as Raila's main successor, often opposing the current government's policies and promises.
Raila started to be soft on the current administration in July this year, in the middle of the rebellion against the government created by the youth.
He suggested that there should be a dialogue to resolve some of the issues that the young citizens were raising.
Kalonzo and his team, which includes DAP-K's Eugene Wamalwa and Jubilee's Jeremiah Kioni, among others, immediately started playing opposition roles.
From the beginning, the team has been opposed to the broader idea of government, which saw five officials from Raila's ODM join the National Executive Committee as Cabinet Secretaries.
Recently, Kalonzo and his team poked holes in the Adani group to seize the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
According to them, the plan is shrouded in fraud and may turn into another scam worth billions of shillings.
Adani Group will take over the airport for thirty years, during which time it will carry out expansion work.
Under businessman Gautam Adani, the company will raise more than KSh 230 billion in improving and managing the airport; then it would retain an 18% stake in the airport's aviation business indefinitely.
Expressing his feelings about the deal, Raila cleared Adani of all accusations of misconduct and fraud, saying it is a reputable company.
The outgoing ODM leader, however, maintains that his outfit is still in opposition despite its clear preference for the government.
4. People Daily
People Daily reported on the lifeline handed over to the governor of Kericho Eric Mutai and the Senate.
Mutai was sacked by Kericho MCAs on October 2; he faced many accusations, including misconduct, abuse of office and violation of the constitution.
On Monday, October 14, at least 34 senators voted to approve a motion to challenge the threshold used in Mutai's removal.
Only 10 people voted in favor of the motion after Speaker Amason Kingi decided that the Senate should decide with a preliminary dissenting vote whether the Kericho County Assembly will meet the two-thirds threshold.
Kingi said the results of the vote show that the case against the Kericho governor has been terminated immediately.
Mutai's lawyer, Katwa Kigen, earlier claimed that 31 MCAs voted to impeach the governor against 32; therefore, he wanted the Senate to rule on the matter before the trial continued.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
