Babu Owino on missing Gachagua's impeachment: 'I was engaged in important matters'

Taking to X, the lawmaker said that he could not spend an entire day debating the DP's impeachment motion at a time when he needed to address more pressing matters for his constituents. 

He noted that he would attend parliament sessions should they discuss matters of national importance such as Adani, New University Funding model, Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), high taxation, and unemployment among others. 

"How can I waste my precious whole day discussing about Rigathi yet we have serious issues like Adani, New University funding model, SHIF, High cost of living, High taxation, unemployment among others," he stated. 

"You'll see me in parliament when these issues are presented but they will not bring them. I was highly engaged with other important and urgent matters affecting my constituents. The speed with which Rigathi was impeached should be the same speed used to solve Kenyans challenges."

Babu alongside Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro were conspicuously absent during the impeachment motion, with critics raising questions over their whereabouts.

Their signatures were also missing in the petition required to file the motion, with the duo opting to watch from a distance. 

In a historic first, 281 MPs voted in support of the motion filed by Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse while 44 voted against, surpassing the threshold required of at least 233 MPs.

MP Mutuse listed 11 grounds for impeaching the DP, claiming that he is unfit to hold office.

Some of the grounds included gross misconduct, corruption, undermining the presidency, bullying, gross violation of the Constitution among others.

During the parliament session, DP Gachagua was provided with an opportunity to respond to the motion.

The DP's 2-hour explanation could not, however, convince the MPs who still voted him out of office.

Following the impeachment, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula is required to inform his senate counterpart Amason Kingi 

Within 7 days of receiving the notice, Kingi will convene a meeting of the Senate to hear the charges against the Deputy President.

The session can either be in plenary or a special Committee of 11 Senators to investigate the matter. The Special Committee/ plenary shall then investigate the matter and file a report within 10 days.

At this time, the Deputy has the right to appear and be represented before the Committee during its investigations. 

The Senators will then be required to vote based on the findings on whether to uphold the impeachment or provide a lifeline to the embattled DP. If they opt to support the MPs' decision, Gachagua will officially cease to hold office.