Kenyan Lawmakers Impeach Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua Over Abuse of Office Charges

Written on 09/10/2024
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In a historic political upheaval, Kenyan lawmakers voted on Tuesday to impeach Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, accusing him of abuse of office.

The impeachment motion against the 59-year-old deputy to President William Ruto cited multiple charges, including corruption, insubordination, undermining government efforts, and promoting ethnically divisive politics.

This unprecedented political event has captivated the nation, as Gachagua's impeachment raises questions about the stability of Kenya's current administration.



In a historic move, the motion — the culmination of months of open conflict between Gachagua and his boss — was approved by 282 MPs in the 349-member National Assembly, more than the two-thirds required.

There were 44 votes against and one abstention, according to parliament speaker Moses Wetangula.

The motion will now proceed to the upper-house Senate and if approved there, Gachagua would become the first deputy president to be removed from office in this way since impeachment was introduced in Kenya’s revised 2010 constitution.

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