291 MPs back motion amid escalating political rift

By Robert Mutasi 

Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse announced that 291 MPs had signed in support of his motion to impeach Kenya's Deputy President, Rigathi Gachagua. 

This represents a significant 83% of the National Assembly, surpassing the required two-thirds threshold. 

"A total of 291 MPs have graciously appended their signatures in support of this motion to impeach Gachagua, " said Mutuse. 

Mutuse, a member of the Maendeleo Chap Chap party and Vice Chair of the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee, confirmed that he would move the motion during the afternoon session in Parliament on Tuesday, October 1, 2024. 

" I wish to thank my fellow MPs for supporting this motion to over 83%, way beyond the required threshold of two-thirds required at the next stage of voting this motion. This is an open and shut case," he stated. 

The motion is centered on accusations of gross violation of the Constitution, including promoting ethnic division, abuse of office, and misconduct, as stipulated under Articles 10 and 27 of the Constitution. 

These grounds align with the legal framework outlined in Article 150 of Kenya’s Constitution, which permits impeachment on the basis of constitutional violations, criminal activity, or gross misconduct.

The push for Gachagua’s ouster has intensified as political tensions between him and President William Ruto continue to escalate. 

Gachagua recently criticized the president during a television interview, marking a deepening rift within Kenya Kwanza's leadership.

Intense lobbying has taken place in Parliament, with various political factions aiming to sway the outcome of this high-stakes impeachment process.

The next step will be for the motion to be debated in the National Assembly, where it requires a minimum of 233 votes to proceed to the Senate. 

If successful, a Senate committee will be formed to investigate the charges and make recommendations. Should the Senate support the impeachment, it would mark the first such action against a Deputy President in Kenya's history.