By Enyichukwu Enemanna
The embattled Deputy President of Kenya, Rigathi Gachagua failed to appear before the Senate on Thursday where his impeachment trial commenced, a development his lawyer told lawmakers is due to his client’s ill health.
“The unfortunate reality is that the Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya has become very unwell and is currently hospitalised,” lawyer Paul Muite told the upper house of parliament.
The development prompted Senate Speaker Amason Kingi to suspend hearings until 5:00 pm (1400 GMT) when Gachagua is expected to testify.
The Speaker said neverthless that Gachagua was expected to take the stand at 5:00 pm. “This is a time-bound process, unfortunately. It is so ordered,” he added.
The Senate had been expected to give its verdict on Thursday evening at the end of the second day of the impeachment trial against the number two to President William Ruto.
This follows a vote last week in the lower house, the National Assembly, to impeach Gachagua on 11 charges including corruption, insubordination, undermining the government and practising ethnically divisive politics.
The Senate trial went ahead after the 59-year-old Gachagua failed multiple times to halt in the impeachment process.
Gachagua has denied all the charges. No criminal proceedings have been launched against him.
It the Senate approves his impeachment, he will be removed from office.
Gachagua has protested that he is being treated like a “spent cartridge”.
He helped in bringing the government to power in 2022, but he has accused President William Ruto of sidelining him.
Ruto has maintained silence since the commencement of the process to impeach his deputy.
