Senate Speaker Amason Kingi has gazetted a special sitting to hear the impeachment charges against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
This follows Gachagua’s impeachment by the National Assembly on Tuesday evening, where 281 Members of Parliament (MPs) voted in favor of his removal.
“I appoint the sitting of the Senate of Wednesday, 9th October 2024, at 9:30 a.m. as the sitting convened for the purpose of hearing the charges in the matter of the proposed removal from office, by impeachment, of His Excellency Rigathi Gachagua, E.G.H., Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya,” stated Kingi in the gazette notice.
As per Article 145 of the Constitution, the Senate will then appoint a special committee of eleven members to investigate the matter.
During the investigation, Gachagua will have the right to appear and be represented before the special committee.
The committee is required to report to the Senate within ten days, indicating whether the allegations against the Deputy President are substantiated.
If the charges are not substantiated, no further action will be taken. However, if they are substantiated, the Senate will proceed to vote on the impeachment charges after giving Gachagua an opportunity to be heard.
If at least two-thirds of all Senate members vote to uphold any impeachment charge, the Deputy President will cease to hold office.
