Kenya’s Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, commonly known as “Riggy G,” was removed from office by Kenyan senators during his impeachment trial, despite his absence due to hospitalization. Gachagua had been set to defend himself in the Senate after pleading not guilty to 11 charges the previous day. However, his lawyer informed the Senate that Gachagua was in The Karen Hospital suffering from chest pains, requesting a postponement of the proceedings.
The Senate, determined to proceed, voted to continue the trial without him. Gachagua’s defense team walked out in protest, leaving the proceedings to unfold in his absence. The Senate’s refusal to delay the trial until Saturday, the last legally permissible day, highlighted their resolve to finalize his impeachment, a move several months in the making after Gachagua fell out with President William Ruto.
Last week, the lower house of parliament, the National Assembly, voted overwhelmingly to impeach Gachagua, paving the way for his trial in the Senate. Gachagua, a prominent businessman from the influential Mount Kenya region, had attended the morning session but described the impeachment as a “political lynching.”
By Thursday evening, two-thirds of the Senate upheld five charges against Gachagua, including inciting ethnic divisions and violating his oath of office, effectively sealing his removal from office. He was cleared of six other charges, including corruption and money laundering. The historic impeachment means that Gachagua is now barred from holding any public office and will lose all exit benefits.
This decision comes just two years after Gachagua and President Ruto were elected on a joint ticket, and it marks the end of months of internal government strife. Tensions between the president and his deputy escalated in June when Gachagua publicly criticized the head of the intelligence agency for not properly informing Ruto about the scale of public protests against controversial tax hikes. Ruto was forced to withdraw the taxes and reshuffled his cabinet, bringing in members of the opposition.
Although Ruto has remained silent on his deputy’s impeachment, the move consolidates his control over the government. Gachagua had vowed to challenge the Senate’s decision before the vote took place.
Reports indicate that Gachagua, 59, is undergoing tests for heart-related issues, though he remains in stable condition according to a doctor cited by Reuters. Meanwhile, speculation has grown about who will replace him, with several high-profile names being floated, including Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata, Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru, Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki, and Foreign Affairs Minister Musalia Mudavadi.