D-Day for Gachagua as MP Mutuse prosecutes impeachment motion

Oct 8, 2024 - 11:14

By Peter Ochieng

It is D-Day for Deputy President (DP) Geoffrey Rigathi Gachagua.

Kibwezi West Member of Parliament (MP) Eckomas Mwengi Mutuse took time to prosecute his impeachment motion against the second in command, which is made up of 11 grounds.

The grounds are gross violation of Articles 10 (2) (a), (b) and (c); 27 (4), 73 (1) (a) and (2)(b); 75 (1)(c), and 129 (2) of the Constitution and Articles 147 (1), as read with Article 131 (2) (c) and (d) of the Constitution, gross violation of Articles 147 (1) and 152 (1) of the constitution, gross violation of Articles 6 (2), 10 (2) (a), 174, 186 (1), 189 (1) and gross violation of Article 160 (1) of the constitution.

Others are gross violation of Articles 3 (1) and 148 (5) (a) of the constitution and violation of section 13 of the National Cohesion and Integrity Act which bars any person from using threatening, abusive, or insulting words, among other grounds.

Mutuse said he has enough evidence to prove every ground levelled against Gachagua, urging MPs to vote in favour of the motion.

“I urge you as one of your colleagues, when this motion is finally put to vote, please vote to impeach Rigathi Gachagua,” said Mutuse.

“In the event that you vote for this motion, I will also persuasively defend it before the Senate,” he added.

Kilifi North MP Owen Baya seconded the motion. Baya called out Gachagua for referring to the National Assembly as a theatre of the absurd.

“Members, are we a theatre of absurdity? Members, are we directionless? Members, are we stupid?” he paused. MPs responded, “No.”

“Kenya is safer without Rigathi Gachagua as Deputy President,” added Baya.

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula earlier criticised Gachagua's two-hour television interview on Monday evening, calling it "abhorrent" and inappropriate because it addressed a motion currently before Parliament.

“Given that the special motion is scheduled for debate and a vote today, I believe the Deputy President should have shown restraint and avoided the media interview," said the Speaker.