Kenya’s Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has been removed from office after he was impeached in a historic vote in the country’s Senate on Thursday night. Gachagua becomes the first deputy president to be removed from office in this way since impeachment was introduced in Kenya’s 2010 constitution.
The 59-year-old, who was once a close ally of President William Ruto, faced 11 charges including insubordination to the president, inciting ethnic violence, corruption, undermining government and money laundering, among others. Gachagua rejected the charges against him as being politically motivated.
But the Senate – which only had to find him guilty of one charge to remove him – decided he was guilty of five of the 11 that Gachagua faced.
Thursday’s vote came at the end of a two-day Senate trial hearing, during which the now former deputy president and the National Assembly both argued their cases.
Gachagua, who previously served as a member of parliament, was elected into office to serve alongside President Ruto in August 2022. The two defied the odds to win the election, but their relations have since sputtered, even as Ruto has warmed to opposition leader Raila Odinga, his main rival in the elections.
The Road to Impeachment
The impeachment process began with a vote in the National Assembly, the lower house of parliament, where 282 out of 349 members voted in favor of removing Gachagua from office. The motion was then sent to the Senate, where a two-thirds majority vote was required to remove him from office.
Gachagua was expected to appear in the Senate as a witness on Thursday, but did not show up. His lawyers said he fell ill with “intense chest pains” and was taken to hospital. Despite his absence, senators voted to proceed with the impeachment hearing, forcing his lawyers to withdraw from the process.
The Charges Against Gachagua
The charges against Gachagua stemmed from a series of incidents that occurred since he took office in August 2022. He was accused of:
- Insubordination to the President: Gachagua was accused of undermining the president’s authority by publicly criticizing his policies and actions. This included comments he made about the handling of the June and July anti-government protests, where he blamed the director-general of the National Intelligence Service for not adequately briefing Ruto on the severity of the protests.
- Inciting Ethnic Violence: Gachagua was accused of making inflammatory statements that could incite ethnic violence. This included a speech he gave in Meru County, where he warned of an “elaborate plot to divide the vote-rich Mt Kenya region” and said the people of the region would “not forget the atrocities committed against them” by the government.
- Corruption: Gachagua faced allegations of corruption, specifically related to his involvement in government tenders. He was cleared of this charge by the Senate.
- Undermining Government: Gachagua was accused of undermining the government’s authority by openly criticizing its policies and actions. This included his criticism of the government’s tax policies, which led to the protests in June and July.
- Money Laundering: Gachagua was accused of engaging in money laundering, but was cleared of this charge.
Gachagua’s Defense
Gachagua denied all charges against him, saying they were politically motivated and lacked legal merit. He argued that the impeachment motion was part of a plot by President Ruto to remove him from office, because he was not in agreement with some of the President’s decisions. He also claimed that the impeachment motion could not have happened without the President’s approval.
The Implications of the Impeachment
The impeachment of Gachagua marks a major turning point in Kenya's politics. It shows that even close allies of the President can be removed from office if they are seen to be undermining his authority. It also highlights the deep divisions within Kenya’s ruling party, and could potentially lead to increased political instability in the country.
What’s Next
The impeachment vote is not the end of the story. Gachagua can appeal the decision in court, which could take months or years to resolve. In the meantime, President Ruto has nominated Kithure Kindiki, the Interior Minister, to replace Gachagua as Deputy President. Kindiki is expected to be approved by parliament.
The impeachment of Gachagua has sparked a debate about the role of the deputy president in Kenya. Some argue that the deputy president should be a strong voice in government, while others believe that they should be a loyal supporter of the president. The impeachment of Gachagua may have a lasting impact on the relationship between the president and deputy president in Kenya.
The Political Aftermath
The impeachment has shaken Kenya’s political landscape. Some believe that the move will strengthen President Ruto’s hold on power, as he has now consolidated his authority by removing a potential rival. Others argue that the impeachment will further divide the ruling party and may lead to more instability in the government.
The removal of Gachagua from office is a significant event in Kenyan politics. It has the potential to shape the country’s political landscape for years to come.
The Rise and Fall of a Political Star
Rigathi Gachagua's political career is a classic tale of ambition, ambition fulfilled, and a dramatic downfall. He went from a relatively unknown politician to the second most powerful man in Kenya, only to have it all taken away from him in a matter of weeks.
Gachagua’s story is a reminder that in politics, power can be fleeting, and the pursuit of ambition can sometimes lead to unexpected consequences. It is likely that we will continue to hear Gachagua’s name in Kenyan politics, as he attempts to regain some of the power he has lost.
