The National Assembly has announced that its session on Thursday, October 3, 2024, will be suspended to allow for essential administrative arrangements aimed at ensuring comprehensive public participation in Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s ongoing impeachment process.
This decision, led by Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, was made in preparation for the debate on the Special Motion to Remove the Deputy President from Office, which is set to begin at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, October 8, 2024. The debate will continue until the motion has been fully considered that afternoon.
Ichung’wah highlighted the importance of thorough public involvement, calling on Members of Parliament (MPs) to support grassroots participation. “We want to conduct granular public participation from polling stations, and I urge MPs to facilitate this,” he stated during the announcement.
According to Standing Order 30(3), the assembly has decided to extend its Tuesday session until the impeachment motion is fully debated. The debate structure allows the motion’s mover 60 minutes to present, followed by 30 minutes for a response. Key leaders, including the Majority and Minority Leaders, along with the Seconder, will each have 10 minutes to speak, while other members will have five minutes to share their views.
A total of 291 out of the 345 National Assembly members have appended their signatures in support of the impeachment motion against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, revealing vulnerabilities in the Deputy President’s position. Notably, Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro abstained from the process despite being a reliable ally of President William Ruto.
After days of speculation regarding the sufficiency of support for the impeachment motion, the overwhelming numbers confirmed its introduction. The Deputy President garnered less than 20% support from the House, while the MPs exceeded the required 117-member threshold by 174 members to table the historic motion.
From the outset, the atmosphere in the House was charged, with some members transforming into cheerleaders, exuberantly shouting the name “patriot” each time Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse excitedly read out the names of those who signed the motion.
Among the notable supporters during the heated session at 2:30 PM was Jubilee nominated MP Sabina Chege, who had previously been a staunch defender of the Deputy President. Those backing the motion also emphasized the need to enhance the security of President William Ruto and, by extension, their own safety.
