Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is in stable condition after being admitted to Karen Hospital on Thursday afternoon. Speaking to the press outside the hospital, Chief Cardiologist Dr. Dan Gikonyo reported that Gachagua was admitted around 3 PM due to severe chest pains.
“The Deputy President was admitted here this afternoon. He came in around 3 o’clock with significant chest pains. He is undergoing various investigations, including blood tests and ECGs, all the procedures we perform to determine if there is any danger,” Dr. Gikonyo stated around 7:45 PM on Thursday. He added, “Right now, he is stable. The pain has lessened, and his blood pressure is okay. We are still conducting investigations.”
Dr. Gikonyo emphasized that Gachagua would need close monitoring for 48 to 72 hours to ensure his safety. “We have to keep him in for about 48-72 hours to make sure that he is safe,” he said.
Gachagua’s health crisis occurred just moments before he was set to take the witness stand for cross-examination in his impeachment trial at the Senate. He was expected to begin his testimony around 12:30 PM, but his legal team informed the Senate that he had been rushed to the hospital.
His attorney, Paul Muite, requested the Senate Speaker to allow time to assess Gachagua’s condition before reporting back by 5 PM. However, counsel for the National Assembly disagreed, urging the Speaker to proceed with the trial in the Deputy President’s absence, citing the time-sensitive nature of the process.
When the session resumed at 5 PM, Gachagua’s legal team informed the House that he had been diagnosed with intense chest pains and admitted to Karen Hospital. They requested the Speaker to grant them five days until Tuesday next week for the Deputy President to recover and participate in the proceedings. However, the Senate voted against the motion to postpone the session, allowing the impeachment hearing to continue without Gachagua present.
