Gachagua to face Senate plenary next week

By Peter Ochieng

Embattled Deputy President (DP) Geoffery Rigathi Gachagua has a date with destiny.

Gachagua will face the Senate plenary next week, in a bid to prove that the impeachment motion passed by the National Assembly on Tuesday night did not meet the threshold.

This, is after the Senate turned down a proposal to constitute an 11-member special committee, to prosecute his impeachment.

The proposal was moved by Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot, before legislatures turned it down.

"I want to urge members to agree with me that we elect 11 of our wisest and most trusted Senators who we think have sufficient wisdom to read on our behalf and make a decision," said the Kericho Senator.

However, it died on arrival after the Minority led by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna declined to support it, instead vouching for plenary prosecution.

"Given the mood of the House especially on the minority side, I respectfully decline to second that motion," said the ODM party Secretary General.

Senate Speaker Amason Jeffa Kingi subsequently directed that the matter be prosecuted in plenary.

The former Kilifi governor directed that invitations to appear before the Senate be made to Gachagua, the National Assembly and parties involved in the impeachment motion.

The parties have to submit their defence by Monday, October 14. The Senate shall investigate the matter on Wednesday and Thursday.

He cautioned Senators from publicly prosecuting the matter, citing a potential compromise of a just outcome of the impeachment process.

"Desist from publicly commenting on the merits or demerits of the motion. Doing so would amount to anticipation of debate which is an infringement of Standing Orders 99," said Kingi.

281 MPs on Tuesday night voted in favour of a motion to impeach Gachagua. 44 voted against it while only 1 abstained.

The Special Motion outlined 11 charges against the Deputy President, including gross violation of the Constitution, undermining the President and the Cabinet, undermining Devolution, and compromising judicial independence by publicly attacking a judge.