Parliament to conduct public participation on DP Gachagua impeachment motion

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's impeachment motion will now proceed to public participation across the 47 counties, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula has announced.

Addressing the House on Tuesday after Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse tabled the proposal, Wetangula emphasized that the motion cannot proceed without the involvement of the public.

The Speaker cited Article 182 of the Constitution which mandates Parliamentary facilitation of citizen engagement in such processes.

"It would be absurd for any person to imagine that a motion such as this one may be concluded without public participation. Article 182 of the Constitution categorically enjoins Parliament to facilitate public participation and involvement in the legislative and other business of Parliament and its committees," he said.

"My attention has also been drawn to various court decisions related to the removal from office of State officers including county governors, I am indeed persuaded that the public participation is an integral element of the process of removal of an elected State officer from office."

Wetangula further announced that the exact dates of the public participation processes will be communicated by the State starting Wednesday, October 2, via media advertisements.

"The House Business Committee has addressed this issue during its meeting this afternoon and approved a programme of public participation across the country to be coordinated from the 47 counties," he said.

"The Clerk shall communicate the full details of the programme for the information of the public through print and electronic media advertisements to run from tomorrow October 2."

MP Mutuse tabled a 100-page document, indicating that he had satisfactory evidence to support his grounds and prove that Gachagua is not suitable to remain in office.

While tabling the motion, which was supported by 291 lawmakers, MP Mutuse noted that the DP's conduct in the past two years violated the oath he took to assume office.