- The Senate approved the decision of the National Assembly to remove the vice president Rigathi Gachagua from office through impeachment
- The former president of LSK Nelson Havi said that the position was open as soon as the senators made a decision
- He pointed out that although CS Kithure Kindiki has been appointed, he has not been sworn in as required by the Constitution, so he has not yet become the deputy president
Kenya has plunged into political turmoil following the conflict between President William Ruto and his former deputy, Rigathi Gachagua.
Source: Facebook
The dispute escalated into an official motion for the removal of Gachagua, led by a Kibwezi Member of Parliament West Mwengi Mutuse, who filed 11 charges against the deputy president.
In a decisive move, 282 MPs voted in favor of Gachagua's removal. The decision was later approved by the Senate, where 56 senators found him guilty on five charges.
Is the office of the deputy president of Kenya open?
Following the dismissal of the charges, former Kenya Bar Association president Nelson Havi explained in an interview with NTV Kenya on Tuesday, October 22, that Gachagua's position was left vacant immediately after the Senate's decision.
“Republic of Kenya does not have a deputy president at the moment, the reason is that from the time the Senate passed the vote to remove Rigathi Gachagua as deputy president from the office, he stopped holding that position,” Havi said.
In response, Ruto quickly appointed Internal Security Minister Kithure Kindiki to fill the vacant position of deputy president.
Kindiki's appointment was overwhelmingly approved by Parliament, with Speaker Moses Wetang'ula confirming that Kindiki was elected deputy president after the vote.
However, Kindiki's swearing-in has been delayed as Gachagua's legal team moved to court to challenge his impeachment and prevent him from holding the position.
The court issued conservatorship orders, temporarily halted the swearing-in process, and granted Gachagua temporary relief.
“The President then appointed Kithure Kindiki and submitted his name to the National Assembly for approval and it was released. But he has not yet taken office by being sworn in as required by the Constitution,” he added.
Did William Ruto call the senators before Gachagua was ousted?
Senator of Nakuru Tabitha Keroche claimed that before Gachagua was removed, Ruto and Kindiki called her and two other senators for a meeting.
Keroche explained that they met with Ruto for two hours to discuss the deterioration of relationship between the president and Gachagua.
During the meeting, he revealed that Kindiki made it clear that he was not asking them to choose a side but insisted that they needed to make their own decision on whether to support or oppose Gachagua's removal.
What else do you need to know about the dissolution of Gachagua?
- Lawyer Danstan Omari has claimed that Gachagua will remain in office until 2027
- President William Ruto asked the court to dismiss Gachagua's case, claiming it was a High Court reserve.
- Mount Kenya MPs who supported the removal of Gachagua have been hiding in fear of the locals
READ ENGLISH VERSION
Do you have an exciting story that you would like us to publish? Please contact us via news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
