The Senate has released the schedule for the upcoming impeachment hearing of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, set for October 16-17, 2024. In a statement made on Friday, October 11, 2024, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi announced that Gachagua will have two days to defend himself against the eleven charges brought forward as grounds for his removal through impeachment.
The session on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, will start with a closed meeting for all senators from 9:00 am to 10:00 am. Afterward, the proceedings will unfold as follows:
10:00 am – 10:30 am: Preliminaries
– (a) Recital of the Senate’s mandate, rules of procedure, and hearing schedule.
– (b) Introduction of National Assembly members representing the assembly, along with their counsel, if applicable.
– (c) Introduction of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and his legal representation, if any.
10:30 am – 11:00 am: Reading of Charges
11:00 am – 11:30 am: Opening Statement by the National Assembly (30 minutes)
11:30 am – 12:00 noon: Opening Statement by the Deputy President (30 minutes)
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm: Presentation of Evidence by the National Assembly
– This will include witness testimonies, cross-examinations, and re-examinations. The National Assembly will have a total of 3 hours to present its evidence, while the defense will have 2 hours for cross-examination.
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm: Lunch Break
2:30 pm – 6:30 pm: Continuation of Evidence Presentation by the National Assembly
– The session will continue with further witness testimonies, cross-examinations, and re-examinations.
6:30 pm – 7:30 pm: Questions and Clarifications by Senators
The hearing will then be adjourned for the day.
Day 2: Impeachment Hearing of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua
9:00 am – 1:00 pm: Evidence Presentation by the Deputy President
– The session will include witness testimonies, cross-examinations, and re-examinations. The Deputy President will have a total of 3 hours to present his evidence, with an additional 2 hours allocated for cross-examination.
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm: Lunch Break
2:30 pm – 3:30 pm: Continuation of Evidence Presentation by the Deputy President
– This will include further witness testimonies, cross-examinations, and re-examinations as necessary.
3:30 pm – 4:30 pm: Questions and Clarifications by Senators
4:30 pm – 5:30 pm: Closing Statement on Behalf of the National Assembly (60 minutes)
5:30 pm – 6:30 pm: Closing Statement on Behalf of the Deputy President (60 minutes)
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm: Debate on the Motion for Impeachment
– Senators will engage in a debate regarding the proposed removal from office of Rigathi Gachagua, EGH, the Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya.
8:30 pm: Voting
– If at least 45 senators support the motion, Gachagua’s impeachment will be confirmed. In that event, the Deputy President may need to seek alternative non-political avenues, such as the Judiciary, for potential recourse, given the extensive legal representation available to him.
