Kenyan senators voted to remove Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua from office, despite his absence at his impeachment trial, after his lawyer reported he had been hospitalized. Gachagua was scheduled to testify in the Senate on Thursday, a day after pleading not guilty to 11 charges.
However, his lawyer sought a postponement, citing Gachagua’s chest pains and treatment at The Karen Hospital. The Senate proceeded with the trial in his absence, leading Gachagua’s defense team to walk out in protest.
The Senate’s decision to continue without delay, despite Gachagua’s illness, signaled their determination to remove him from office, following months of conflict between Gachagua and President William Ruto. Last week, the National Assembly overwhelmingly voted for his impeachment, leading to a two-day trial in the Senate.
Gachagua, a businessman from the central Mount Kenya region, had earlier described his impeachment as a “political lynching.” Following his removal, President Ruto quickly nominated Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki as Gachagua’s replacement, with parliament unanimously approving the decision. However, the Nairobi High Court suspended the impeachment and Kindiki’s swearing-in until a hearing on October 24.
The Senate upheld five charges against Gachagua, including inciting ethnic divisions and violating his oath of office, while clearing him of six other charges, including corruption. The ruling bars him from holding public office again and strips him of retirement benefits. This historic move comes just two years after Ruto and Gachagua were elected together.
The political clash escalated in June when Gachagua publicly blamed the intelligence agency head for failing to inform the government about mass protests over tax hikes, a move seen as undermining the president. This led Ruto to sack his cabinet and bring opposition members into his government.
Although Gachagua indicated plans to challenge the decision, his removal consolidates Ruto’s power and ends months of internal strife within the government.
