Gachagua impeachment to go through Senate plenary as special committee motion fails

The proposal was moved by Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot on Wednesday who said that the committee will be tasked with probing the charges levelled against DP Gachagua and table their findings to the Senate for further interrogation.

"I want to urge members to agree with me that we elect 11 of our wisest and most trusted Senators who we think have sufficient wisdom to read on our behalf and make a decision," said Cheruiyot.

The proposal was however not seconded by the Minority as Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna said that the matter has elicited immense public attention and deserves a plenary prosecution.

"Given the mood of the House especially on the minority side I respectfully decline to second that motion," Sifuna said.

Standing Orders of the Senate dictate that a question on any motion shall not be proposed unless it is seconded, and any motion that shall not be seconded will be deemed to have been withdrawn and shall not be moved again in the same session unless with the permission of the Speaker.

Speaker Kingi therefore noted that the matter shall be prosecuted in plenary.

He further directed that invitations to appear before the Senate be made to DP Gachagua, the National Assembly and parties involved in the impeachment motion.

The parties will be expected to submit their defence by Monday, October 14 and the Senate shall investigate the matter on Wednesday and Thursday.

Speaker Kingi also cautioned Senators from publicly prosecuting the matter, citing a potential compromise of a just outcome of the impeachment process.

"Desist from publicly commenting on the merits or demerits of the motion. Doing so would amount to anticipation of debate which is an infringement of  Standing Orders 99," he said.

Members of Parliament impeached Gachagua on Tuesday after a day-long prosecution as 281 members voted in favour of the ouster, 44 voted against it and 1 abstained.

The Special Motion outlined 11 charges against the Deputy President, including gross violation of the Constitution, undermining the President and the Cabinet, undermining Devolution, and compromising judicial independence by publicly attacking a judge.

Additional accusations included making inciteful statements, committing economic crimes, spreading false, malicious, divisive, and inciteful remarks, public insubordination of the President, and persistently bullying State and public officers.