The Kenyan National Assembly is set to vote on Tuesday on an impeachment motion against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, a move that could potentially destabilize the East African nation’s economy and spark political unrest, Bloomberg reports.
The motion, filed by Member of Parliament Mwengi Mutuse, accuses Gachagua of violating the Constitution through inflammatory pronouncements, amassing wealth through suspected corruption and money laundering, and undermining cabinet decisions. The petition outlines ten grounds for impeachment, alleging that Gachagua has used his position for personal gain and displayed insubordination, including attacking a judge and the nation’s intelligence chief.
“Gachagua uses his constitutional power as deputy president solely to implement sectarian, parochial and personal interests that seek to profit him,” the petition read.
Gachagua, who has denied any wrongdoing, claims the motion is a “witch-hunt” and insists that his wealth was amassed prior to his entry into politics.
While the motion faces an uphill battle, with the ruling coalition holding a slim majority in parliament, some lawmakers are expected to support Gachagua, including members of the opposition.
The potential removal of Gachagua could reignite political tensions in Kenya, particularly along ethnic lines. His ousting could lead to renewed hostilities between the Kalenjin and Kikuyu communities, which were instrumental in the 2022 election victory of President William Ruto and Gachagua.
Furthermore, the move could disrupt legislative processes, create uncertainty, and negatively impact economic growth. Kenya’s economy has only recently begun to recover from months of anti-government protests.
The impeachment motion comes amidst a strained relationship between President Ruto and Gachagua, which further escalated after Ruto’s rapprochement with opposition leader Raila Odinga earlier this year. This alliance, aimed at garnering wider support for Ruto, has fractured both the ruling coalition and the opposition.
If passed by both houses of Parliament, the motion would trigger a 60-day period for the president to nominate a successor, who would then need to be approved by lawmakers.
