Senate sittings suspended as Gachagua is taken ill

By Peter Ochieng

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has been taken ill.

The information about his illness was shared by his lead lawyer, Paul Muite, shortly before the start of a cross-examination exercise at the Senate.

He was to be cross examined by National Assembly lawyers, led by Siaya governor James Orengo in the impeachment motion against him.   

The DP failed to turn up for the cross examination, despite spending the better part of his time within Senate chambers on Wednesday and Thursday.

“The sad reality is that the DP has been taken ill and is currently in hospital. That is the sad reality,” said Muite.

“My proposal is that you give me the rest of the day to have an assessment of the DPs situation and come back by 5pm after seeing him and speaking to the doctor,” added the seasoned advocate.

In chipping in, Orengo urged Muite to give the Senate a way forward.

“You have made it quite clear that these proceedings are time bound. I request Senior Counsel Paul Muite to give us a way forward because we do not want anyone to say that the DP was not given an opportunity to be heard,” said Orengo.

Muite pleaded for time until 5pm to check on the DP and get a report from his doctor before giving a way forward.

Reports indicate that Gachagua’s motorcade left the Senate premises at around 1pm, in what seemed to be going for lunch.   

After consideration from both sides, Senate Speaker Amason Jeffa Kingi suspended sittings until 5pm to establish the health status of the Deputy President.

He made the decision after taking views from both the Majority and Minority sides in the Senate.

Kingi said if all goes well, the second in command is supposed to take to the witness stand at 5pm.

“We will suspend this seating and resume at 5pm. We expect the DP to take the witness stand at 5pm. Unfortunately, this is a time bound process.”