Senators Gagged As Speaker Kingi Issues Guidelines On Gachagua Impeachment Motion
Senate Speaker Amason Kingi has advised senators not to comment on the ongoing impeachment proceedings against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
In his announcement, Kingi stated that the special motion against the second in command, which is currently before the National Assembly, could potentially make its way to the Senate plenary.
As a result, Senators’ public comments on the contagious matter would be inappropriate.
The speaker was forced to clarify the situation after several senators were recorded commenting on the ongoing impeachment debate involving the deputy president.
Kingi noted that some senators went so far as to call out a group of National Assembly members in response to the motion.
Senate Speaker Amason Kingi makes a communication to guide the Senators on how they should conduct themselves as the National Assembly considers the motion for the removal of the Deputy President by impeachment. #SenateLive pic.twitter.com/X6oT5gpZHe
— Senate of Kenya (@Senate_KE) October 3, 2024
According to the Senate speaker, Articles 145 and 150 of the Constitution make it clear that the process of impeaching the deputy president involves both the Senate and the National Assembly.
“It is in the public domain that a motion has been filed in the national assembly for proposed removal of deputy president by impeachment,” Kingi stated.
“Following articles 145 and 150 of the constitution, this is a matter that may be referred to the Senate for consideration.”
The Speaker continued; “It shall be out of order for a senator to criticise or call to question the proceedings in National Assembly. In such case, I caution honourable senators to desist from commenting on proceedings in the national assembly.”
Kingi’s directive to Senators comes just two days after Kibwezi West Member of Parliament Mwengi Mutuse introduced a special motion to impeach Rigathi Gachagua in the National Assembly.
The motion sought to impeach the DP on 11 grounds, including gross constitutional violations, undermining the president, making inciteful remarks, and allegedly interfering with Nairobi County’s governance.
Other grounds for impeachment included breaking the oath of office, violating the National Cohesion and Integration Act, illegally acquiring property, and misinforming the public on critical issues.
The motion is scheduled for public participation in all 47 counties on October 4 and 5, after which DP Gachagua will be given a fair hearing on October 8.
Following the hearing, and once the members of the National Assembly have reached a resolution on the impeachment, the speaker of the National Assembly, Moses Wetangula, will notify the speaker of the Senate, Amason Kingi, of the resolution.
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The Speaker of the Senate will then convene a plenary within seven days to select an 11-member committee to investigate the charges against Gachagua.
After ten days, the committee will report back to the Senate plenary on the probe’s findings.
If the findings do not meet the grounds for impeaching the deputy president, the ouster motion will be quashed immediately.
In equal measure, if the Senate upholds the impeachment charges, the deputy president will be granted the final hearing, following which senators will vote.
Senators Gagged As Speaker Kingi Issues Guidelines On Gachagua Impeachment Motion
