Gachagua falls ill minutes before testimony

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has fallen ill just minutes before he was set to take the stand as a key witness, according to his lawyer, Paul Muite.

"First and foremost, I want to express our apologies and regret that the Deputy President is not present. He has taken ill, very ill, and as I address this House, he is in the hospital," Muite stated.

“I have just received this information; my proposal is that you give me the rest of the day to assess the situation and maybe come back at 5 pm. At least give me an hour or two so that I can see the Deputy President and talk to the doctor,” added Muite.

Senate Speaker Amason Kingi has since suspended the impeachment trial until 5 p.m, giving Gachagua's legal team two hours to locate him. Failure, the hearing will continue without the DP. 

"We will suspend this session and resume at 5 p.m. We expect the Deputy President to take the stand at that time. Unfortunately, this is a time-bound process," Kingi declared.

Before Kingi's ruling, the National Assembly's counsel Eric Gumbo opposed Muite's request, stating: "While we empathise with the situation, there seems to be no specific proposal from their side. This process is time-sensitive.”

"I would draw your attention to Rule 11 of the Senate, which states; Where the National Assembly or the Deputy President fails to appear before the Senate, that fact shall be recorded, and the Senate shall proceed with the investigation without further reference to either. However, the Senate may permit a later appearance by the National Assembly or the Deputy President. We may proceed, and if necessary, any additional material can be submitted at a later stage," said Gumbo. 

Earlier, the DP's convoy was seen leaving the Parliament Buildings in Nairobi, shortly after the conclusion of the morning session. 

Implications
Gachagua was expected to take the stand immediately after the Senate resumed at 2:30 p.m., where he would face cross-examination, along with any other witnesses. Senators were set to ask questions or seek clarification, with closing statements from the legal teams of both the National Assembly and Gachagua.

Despite the delay, Speaker Kingi says he process will proceed as scheduled.

As the 5 p.m. deadline approaches, all eyes are on whether the Deputy President will appear. His absence could prompt the Senate to proceed without him, heightening the political drama surrounding the case.

With time running out, Gachagua's appearance is crucial, as his absence may leave him with limited opportunities to present his defense. 

If he fails to attend, he could become the first Kenyan politician to miss his impeachment hearing—a significant moment with potentially lasting effects on his political career.