Nairobi, Kenya, October 18- Rigathi Gachagua’s tenure as Deputy President came to an unprecedented end after the Senate voted to impeach him, marking a significant moment in Kenya’s political history.
As Thursday, October 17, drew to a close, senators had deliberated on the 11 charges brought against Gachagua in the impeachment motion.
Five of these charges were upheld, surpassing the two-thirds majority required to approve at least one accusation against a public officer.
This historic decision, officially published in the gazette, makes Gachagua the first sitting Deputy President to be removed from office through impeachment.
With the Deputy President’s office now vacant, speculation is growing over who might be selected to fill the position.
Notably, the National Assembly had altered its schedule to convene a special session on Friday to discuss “urgent matters,” signaling that Gachagua’s fate had already been sealed.
What’s next?
According to Article 150 (1) (b) of the Constitution, the Deputy President’s office can be declared vacant via impeachment if the individual is found guilty of gross misconduct, a serious violation of the Constitution, or committing a crime under national or international law.
President William Ruto is expected to nominate a replacement for the Deputy President within 14 days of the vacancy being declared.
The nominee must meet the qualifications set out by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), including being a Kenyan citizen by birth, not having allegiance to a foreign country, holding a degree from a recognized university, and meeting ethical standards under the Leadership and Integrity Act.
The candidate must also be of sound mind, free from any prison sentence of at least six months, have no violations of Chapter Six of the Constitution, and must not have been previously removed from public office.
Once nominated, the National Assembly has up to 60 days to vote on the candidate.
Upon approval, the nominee will be formally appointed as the Deputy President by the president. While the Constitution doesn’t specify a timeframe for the appointment, it is expected to happen soon after parliamentary approval.
Under Article 149 (8), a Deputy President is considered to have served a full term if they hold office for more than two and a half years.
For Gachagua, he now loses the retirement benefits accorded to Deputy Presidents for having failed to attain a full term.
