On Saturday, October 19, local newspapers reported on the fate of former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua, who fled to court after the Senate approved his impeachment.
Source: UGC
The newspapers also highlighted different statements among Kenyans following President William Ruto's appointment of Internal Security Minister Kithure Kindiki as deputy president.
1. The Saturday Standard
Two former parliamentarians, known for their commitment to development and their communities, have passed away.
Beatrice Nkatha, Tharaka Nithi Women's Representative from 2013 to 2022, died at St. Mary's Mission Hospital. Theresa in Kiirua, Meru County.
Tharaka Nithi leaders including Governor Muthomi Njuki, Tharaka Member of Parliament Gitonga Murugara and Speaker of the County Assembly John Mbabu mourned Nkatha commending his dedication in bringing about development. Nkatha comes from Chuka-Igambang'ombe.
In Kisii, former Member of Parliament for Bonchari Zebedeo Opore passed away at the hospital Nairobi after a long illness.
His son, Robin Opore, described him as a family member who is passionate about education for his constituents.
Local leaders, including Woman Representative Doris Donya, mourned Opore, recalling her encouragement of women to play political roles. Donya noted that Opore even paid his Jubilee nomination fee in 2017.
2. Saturday Nation
Celebrations erupted in the village of Irunduni, Tharaka-Nithi County, following the nomination and parliamentary approval of Home Affairs Minister Kithure Kindiki to replace Rigathi Gachagua as Deputy President.
Neighbors gathered at Kindiki's house in the village, singing and dancing to thank President William Ruto for choosing one of them for the position.
President Ruto sent Prof Kindiki's nomination to the National Assembly, where all 236 MPs in attendance approved it.
However, the court has stopped the replacement of Gachagua, which means that Prof Kindiki can wait before assuming his official position.
MCA of Mukothima Nyaga Marengo described the appointment as historic for the Tharaka-Nithi community.
3. The Star
The daily newspaper reported that the senator of Pain Wahome Wamatinga joined the growing list of MPs from his county who supported the sacking of former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua during the historic Senate vote.
In a surprising move that marked the decline of Gachagua's support in his home region, Wamatinga voted to uphold three of the five charges brought against the former Deputy.
Wamatinga are part of a group of nine senators from Mt Kenya who voted to remove Gachagua.
Other senators who voted to sack the former DP include Tabitha Keroche (Nakuru), Kathure Murungi (Meru), Alexander Mundigi (Embu), and Mwenda Gataya (Tharaka Nithi), who all supported all the charges approved by the Senate.
Furthermore, senators-elect Veronica Maina, Karen Nyamu, and George Mbugua also voted in favor of Gachagua's removal, thus showing a major change in the political arena against the former Deputy President.
During the Senate debate, Senator-elect Karen Nyamu explained the emotional difficulty of supporting the impeachment motion against the former Gachagua.
Nyamu acknowledged Gachagua's leadership and their shared political journey, saying he has been their leader, fighting for the government.
He said that we are not very happy to be accused before we vote to remove him.
In a surprising move, Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei, who had publicly defended Gachagua, also voted in favor of his removal.
However, the most surprising thing came from Nyeri Senator Wahome Wamatinga, a close ally of Gachagua.
Despite their strong political ties, Wamatinga voted in favor of two offenses and abstained from three others during the vote to remove him from power.
His decision left many stunned, especially considering his history with Gachagua, who served as the chairman of the treasury board of the Mathira constituency when Gachagua was an MP.
It is believed that Wamatinga's close relationship with Gachagua played a major role in his election to the Senate.
4. Nation Today
The Swahili newspaper reported that a judge has ordered that Omari Lali, the lover of Tecra Muigai – the daughter of Nakuru Senator Tabitha Karanja Keroche – be charged for the girl's murder.
Chief Justice Zainab Abdul, who was overseeing the investigation into Tecra's death, said that Lali was involved in the death by luck bad
Judge Abdul said this after going through the evidence given in the investigation aimed at determining the cause of Tecra's death and those involved.
He recommended that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) formally bring murder charges against Lali.
Previously, Lali faced murder charges, but former DPP Noordin Haji had ordered an investigation to determine the cause of death.
“The court orders the DPP to bring charges under Article 157 of the Constitution,” he said.
In that decision, Magistrate Mashauri noted that the medical reports show serious injuries including skull fracture and that when the incident happened only two people.
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