In Kenyaʼs capital Nairobi a dramatic scene unfolded as the senate briefly stopped an impeachment hearing for Rigathi Gachagua‚ the deputy president. His lawyers said he was in hospital due to an illness
Gachagua said he wasnt guilty of 11 charges on 16/10/2024. The senate was going to question him but couldnt because he got sick. They plan to vote on kicking him out of office on the evening of 17/10/2024
The charges against Gachagua include:
- Being corrupt
- Making different ethnic groups fight
- Helping people who were against the government and went into parliament building
Its the first time a deputy president in Kenya might lose his job this way. Paul Muite‚ Gachaguaʼs lawyer‚ said doctors told him the deputy president had “intense chest pains“ and needed to rest a lot
Before Gachagua got sick his lawyers asked questions to people who said bad things about him. They also wanted to remove some evidence from a Nairobi governor who didnt show up
This whole thing shows that Gachagua and President William Ruto dont get along well. Gachagua thinks Ruto wants him gone and asked the senate to decide without being forced
If two-thirds of the senate says yes Gachagua will lose his job right away. But he said heʼd go to court to fight it. This problem might make people who want to put money in East Africaʼs big business center worried
Ruto who said he wanted to help poor people in Kenya has been having a hard time. People didnt like his ideas to make taxes higher so he could pay back money to other countries. He had to change some of his plans and switch some people in his government