By Enyichukwu Enemanna
The bid by the embattled Deputy President of Kenya, Rigathi Gachagua to stop the Senate from voting on his impeachment on Tuesday suffered setback as courts declined his application.
In one of the courts, Justice Chacha Mwita had referred the matter to the chief justice to appoint a panel to adjudicate on the matter.
In another court, panel of judges rejected an application to stop the parliament from performing its function.
The court said it would rule on the constitutionality of Gachagua’s impeachment on Wednesday when debate is expected to commence in the Senate.
Heritage Times HT recalls that the country’s parliament had last week voted to impeach Gachagua for allegedly stirring ethnic hatred, embezzlement and undermining the government.
In line with the constitution, the matter is before the Senate, which will debate whether the embattled Deputy President will remain in office or not.
After he fell out with President William Ruto just about two years after the duo came to power, several legal challenges to stop the impeachment of the deputy president from proceeding has failed.
Gachagua’s support during the 2022 election helped to secure votes from the populous central Kenya region where he commands large followership.
He has accused Ruto of sidelining him in the government, signaling a strained relationship between the duo, coming after deadly anti-government protests in the East African nation in which over 50 people were reported dead.
The deputy president had been accused of backing the protests in June and July against a legislation seeking to raise tax in the country facing cost-of-living crisis.
The president has maintained silence on the impeachment proceedings against Gachagua.
