Babu, Nyoro And 16 MPs Who Snubbed Gachagua Impeachment Motion
Vocal politicians are among 18 MPs who were a no-show as Parliament voted to impeach Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Tuesday.
Ndindi Nyoro, Kiharu MP, and Babu Owino, Embakasi East MP, are among the notable absentees.
Deputy Minority Whip Mark Mwenje also gave the vote a wide berth, despite the minority coalition’s support for the motion.
Nyoro, who is from Gachagua’s Mt Kenya neighborhood, has been identified as one of the potential replacements.
Another surprise absentee was Nyeri Woman Representative Rahab Mukami, who over the weekend reversed her position and declared support for the DP.
Mukami, along with Njoroge Wainaina (Kieni) and Geoffrey Wandeto (Tetu), stated that their change of heart was informed by sentiments from their voters.
“After soul-searching and reading through the motion, I realised this is something our deputy president and the President can sit down and resolve because Kenya is bigger than all of us,” Mukami said.
“I have listened to the ground and the people of Nyeri have said they do not want the deputy president removed.”
Patrick Simiyu (Cherangany), Hassan Yusuf (Kamkunji), John Machua (Kiambu), Antony Njoroge (Kieni), Joseph Gitari (Kirinyaga central), Rose Museo (Makueni), Joshua Mbithi (Masinga), Abraham Kirwa (Mosop), Peter Mbogho (Mwatate), Esther Passaris (Nairobi), and David Njuguna (Ol Kalou) were also absent.
Naisula Lesuuda (Samburu West), Joshua Kavinda (Kaiti), and Nicholas Ngikolong (Turkana East) were all absent.
Some lawmakers were in Parliament but refused to vote.
On Wednesday, Babu defended his decision, claiming that the country is dealing with serious issues that require more attention.
“How can I waste my precious whole day discussing Rigathi yet we have serious issues like Adani, new university funding model, SHIF, high cost of living, high taxation, unemployment among others,” he said.
“You’ll see me in Parliament when these issues are presented, but they will not bring them. I was highly engaged with other important and urgent matters affecting my constituents. The speed with which Rigathi was impeached should be the same speed used to solve Kenyans’ challenges.”
A total of 282 MPs voted to impeach the DP, with 44 voting against the special motion.
Initially, the Speaker declared the tally as 281 in support of the motion, and 44 members voted to oppose, with one abstaining.
The Speaker, however, clarified on Wednesday that there was a misunderstanding, with Ainabkoi MP Samuel Chepkonga’s vote not being included in the final tally. Gachagua will have to defend himself in the Senate plenary.
This comes after Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot’s motion to create a special committee to hear charges against him failed.
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Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna declined to second the motion, igniting the mood in the house.
Speaker Amason Kingi stated that the plenary will investigate the charges on Wednesday and Thursday next week.
The National Assembly and Gachagua have until the end of Monday to submit evidence.
“Pursuant to Article 145 ( 3 ) of the Constitution and Standing Order 78 ( 1 ) of the Senate Standing orders, I appoint the sitting of the Senate for Wednesday, October 9, at 9:30 am as the sitting convened for the hearing,” he said in a gazette notice dated October 9.
Babu, Nyoro And 16 MPs Who Snubbed Gachagua Impeachment Motion
