The National Assembly has extended the public participation exercise on the impeachment motion against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to Saturday, giving Kenyans more time to share their views. This decision was announced by Clerk of the National Assembly, Samuel Njoroge, on Friday, following an order from the High Court.
Njoroge explained that the extension, which lasts for one day, would provide enough time for citizens across the 290 constituencies to submit their opinions on the matter. He stated that the public could visit their respective Constituency or County Woman Representative’s office between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to participate.
“Noting that the High Court of Kenya sitting at Kerugoya acknowledged the public hearings of today, 4th October 2024, and further ordered that the National Assembly organize similar public hearings closer to the citizens at least at constituency level… it is notified to the general public that, further to the public participation exercise which commenced on 2nd October 2024, and the collection of views across the venues and Constituency/County Women Representative Offices on 4th October 2024, the 290 Constituency Offices and 47 County Women Representative Offices of all Members of the National Assembly… shall remain open on Saturday, 5th October 2024 from 8.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. to facilitate further public participation on the Special Motion,” the notice stated.
The High Court’s Thursday ruling, delivered by Justice Richard Mwongo of the Kerugoya Law Courts, emphasized that public participation must be comprehensive and accessible to all Kenyans. He noted that the process must be transparent, easy to understand, and offer a genuine opportunity for public input, not just be a formality.
Despite Gachagua filing a petition against the exercise, which he argued was “grossly insufficient” with just one day allocated for meaningful public participation, the process went ahead on Friday. The Constitution mandates that the National Assembly has seven days to deliberate on the special motion for Gachagua’s impeachment, with the deadline set for Tuesday, before the Senate takes over the matter.
