On Friday, October 17, Kenyan newspapers reported extensively on the rise and fall of former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua after the Senate voted to impeach him.
Daily newspapers noted how the embattled politician met his end in an impeachment trial in the Senate.
Daily Nation
Rigathi Gachagua was removed as deputy president of Kenya on Thursday, October 16, after senators voted no confidence in him.
President William Ruto chose Gachagua as his running mate in the 2022 General Election after serving for one term as Member of Parliament for Mathira.
However, he was not the favorite for the position as Kenya First Union MPs voted to elect Minister of Internal Security Kithure Kindiki.
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Having served only two years in office, relationship of Gachagua and his boss faltered, with Ruto's allies accusing him of disrupting the government.
He was forced to hold several public meetings in his Mt Kenya stronghold, accusing the president and his allies of treason.
His fate ended when 282 MPs approved the motion to remove him from office presented by Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse, and the Senate approved it.
Gachagua was accused of threatening the president, disorderly conduct, and disobeying orders, among other charges.
Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi, Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki, and Murang'a Governor Irungu Kang'ata are among those said to be in the forefront to replace Gachagua.
The Star
After the Senate approved the removal of Gachagua, plans are proceeding rapidly to choose his successor.
This newspaper reported that the government machinery is set to appoint a new vice president.
According to local sources, the National Assembly will hold a special session today, Friday, October 18, to approve the new deputy presidential candidate chosen by Ruto.
“This is due to the urgency to finish some important activities before going on vacation,” said Majority Speaker Sylvanus Osoro.
This speedy process is claimed to be a tactic to avoid court interference at a time when Gachagua's lawyers were seeking to stop the process.
People Daily
This newspaper reported how Gachagua's fate was finalized by the Senate. In a historic move, senators agreed with the National Assembly that Ruto's Deputy should be removed from office.
Gachagua was scheduled to defend himself on Thursday afternoon, October 16, but did not attend due to illness, according to his lawyer, Paul Muite.
Although the former deputy's legal team sought an adjournment of the session, the Senate decided to continue the process while Gachagua received treatment for chest pain at Karen Hospital.
After voting against the adjournment motion, the senators discussed the charges against Gachagua and finally voted to end his political career.
The Standard
A section of Mount Kenya residents expressed mixed opinions about the removal of Rigathi Gachagua from office.
Anxious residents gathered at local bars and hotels to watch the Senate hearing.
Dennis Muthuri, a businessman, said he expected Gachagua to fail as some of the witnesses presented by the National Assembly were government officials.
Residents of I turn it on they said Gachagua and President William Ruto should leave power.
“The public participation exercise was a joke, and if Gachagua leaves home, he should be followed by a president who has failed to lead the nation,” said youth leader Simon Wakaba.
National Today
Rigathi Gachagua's only hope to save his political life is in court. Gachagua hopes to follow in the footsteps of some governors who were removed from office by the Senate but saved by the courts.
For example, the former governor of Embu Martin Wambora was removed from office by the Senate twice but served two terms.
Gachagua's lawyers said that the process of removing him did not follow the law as the parliament did not involve his side during the exercise of public participation.
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