Nairobi, Kenya, October 7- Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is set to personally defend himself in the National Assembly on Tuesday, as he faces 11 charges in a proposed impeachment motion.
Victor Swanya, Gachagua’s lead lawyer, confirmed that the Deputy President is ready to confront his accusers and that his legal team is finalizing preparations for the hearing. “We are ready, and His Excellency will be present in the National Assembly,” Swanya told The Star.
The Deputy President has been allotted two hours on Tuesday evening, starting at 5 p.m., to present his defense before the house. According to parliamentary rules, Gachagua can appear in person or through legal representation, though his absence would not halt the process.
The motion, initiated by Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse, accuses Gachagua of 11 counts of misconduct, including violating the Constitution, promoting ethnic discrimination, and undermining national unity through divisive public statements. Mwengi also alleges that Gachagua has contradicted government policies, failed to uphold collective Cabinet responsibility, and interfered with devolved county functions, weakening devolution and judicial independence.
Additional charges include corruption, money laundering, abuse of office, and violating anti-corruption laws. Gachagua’s legal team, composed of 25 lawyers, has prepared a detailed response to counter these allegations, with plans to use electronic evidence, including videos, during the hearing.
Following Gachagua’s defense, MPs will debate the motion and vote on whether to proceed with the impeachment.
