Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has requested Senate Speaker Amason Kingi for an additional five days to take the witness stand during his impeachment trial. Through his lead counsel, Paul Muite, Gachagua stressed the importance of being granted a fair chance to defend himself, considering the gravity of the case.
Following Muite’s report that Gachagua had fallen ill and was rushed to the hospital, he asked Speaker Kingi to postpone the trial until Tuesday, October 22.
“The choice of the language to appear must be read with Article 145, which obligates the Senate to give the Deputy President an opportunity to be heard. I leave the matter in your hands, Speaker,” Muite stated.
“I suggest that Article 145, sub-article 6(b), does not impose a strict 10-day limit. In the interest of justice, given the weight of removing a Deputy President from office, I would humbly request that you give the DP a few more days, up until Tuesday,” he added.
However, National Assembly counsel Eric Gumbo opposed the request, arguing that postponing the trial would interfere with the set timelines, as the process is time-bound. He suggested that Gachagua’s legal team proceed with the trial in his absence.
“Because Gachagua has already had the chance to present all the material he wanted and cross-examine witnesses, what remains is the highlighting of his case. We can skip the cross-examination and focus on the highlights of the material he has already submitted before the House,” Gumbo remarked.
Muite also informed the Senate that the Deputy President was suffering from chest pains and had been admitted to Karen Hospital.
