Kenyan impeachment proceedings kick off after court ruling

Impeachment proceedings against Kenya's deputy president Rigathi Gachagua are constitutional, a court said on Wednesday, clearing the way for the Senate to hold hearings and vote on his dismissal this week.

Kenya's National Assembly voted on Tuesday last week to impeach the deputy president on 11 charges, which included corruption, undermining the government and stirring ethnic hatred. Gachagua has denied all charges.

Gachagua has said the impeachment motion, backed by opposition lawmakers and allies of President William Ruto, was based on falsehoods that constituted a political lynching, according to court documents seen by Reuters.

He launched an appeal in the high court, but judge Erick Ogolla said the process could go ahead.

"At this stage, the process is a lawful, constitutional process, and the Senate will conduct a trial where all the issues being raised before the court will be raised and determined at the moment," the judge said in court.

Shifting alliances

The deputy president was Ruto's running mate in their 2022 election win, helping secure vital votes from the populous central Kenya region. But the men have since fallen out and political alliances have shifted.

Ruto fired most of his Cabinet and appointed members of the opposition to what he called a unity government after nationwide protests against tax increases in which more than 50 people were killed.

A two-thirds majority would be needed to dismiss Gachagua.

Kenya’s Senate began debating the impeachment yesterday behind closed doors. A decision is expected to be announced today. If the Senate approves the motion, Gachagua would become the first deputy president to be impeached since Kenya’s 2010 constitution introduced the process.