Senior Counsel Paul Muite informed Senate Speaker Amason Kingi that Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua was taken to the hospital during the lunch break of his Senate impeachment trial on Thursday. Muite, Gachagua’s lead counsel, confirmed that the DP had fallen ill and needed medical attention. He requested the Speaker to grant him one or two hours to visit Gachagua and assess whether he could continue with the trial.
“Apologies and regrets that the Deputy President is not here, and for the inconveniences and delays caused to the Speaker and the Senators. The reality is that during the break, as I was trying to find out why he wasn’t present, it became clear that the DP had fallen sick and had been taken to the hospital,” Muite stated, asking for time until 5:00 pm to provide an update on Gachagua’s condition.
Meanwhile, the lead counsel representing the National Assembly requested that the trial proceed in Gachagua’s absence. After hearing both arguments, Speaker Kingi decided to suspend the session until 5:00 pm.
Following the suspension, Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo observed that the DP appeared lethargic during the lunch break. He emphasized that Gachagua should be given an opportunity to defend himself before the Senate, in accordance with the Constitution.
“He looked tired. In fact, he had lunch at his office with some Senators from his region, and they said he seemed fine. Then, suddenly, they said he had fallen ill and was rushed to the hospital,” Maanzo remarked. “As long as he is in the hospital, he must be given a fair chance to be heard under the Constitution. We will await the Speaker’s decision. If he says we proceed, that will be in line with the law,” he added.
