New DP to be sworn in by Saturday

Kenyans will have a new Deputy President by Saturday this week should the Senate uphold Rigathi Gachagua’s impeachment tomorow.

Sources intimated to The Standard yesterday that the name of Gachagua’s successor is set to be tabled before the National Assembly on Thursday night as soon as a ruling on his fate is communicated by Senate Speaker Amason Kingi.

With all indications that the Senate will vote to impeach DP Gachagua tomorrow, after the Courts denied the second-in- command a much needed lifeline, the National Assembly is then expected to hold a special sitting on Friday for the consideration of the name to be nominated by President William Ruto.

“We are having a special sitting on Friday to approve the new Deputy President. We expect that Chief Justice Martha Koome will be swearing in Gachagua’s successor by Saturday,” said the insider.

This was also corroborated by another lawmaker who explained that a motion calling for the convening of special sitting on Friday is expected to be tabled before the National Assembly today.

“You wait for tomorrow (today), a motion will be introduced for the holding of a special sitting on Friday. By Saturday there will be a new Deputy President in the city,” he explained.

Likely contenders to take over from Gachagua include Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki who is touted as the favourite having garnered the support of majority MPs and cited as opinion polls as the front runner, Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru , Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi as well as Laikipia East MP, Mwangi Kiunjuri.

According to the Constitution, when a vacancy in the office of the Deputy President arises, President William Ruto is expected to nominate a person to fill the vacancy, and the National Assembly shall vote on the nomination within sixty days after receiving it.

This means that there is nothing barring President Ruto from announcing Gachagua’s replacement within the first hour after the Senate’s decision- should it uphold his ouster- and nothing stops the House from considering and approving the nominee’s name on the first of the provided sixty days.

Leader of Majority Kimani Ichungwah also hinted that the National Assembly was ready to dispense with the DP impeachment matter as quickly as possible.

“I am going to finish this issue of impeachment next week so we can get another Deputy President that will not bring us issues of shame, one that will not incite us along tribal lines and one who wont come between us and development, ”said Ichungwah on Monday.

At the same time, the Senate yesterday made public the impeachment proceedings schedule that will guide Gachagua’s ouster process for the two days.

Senators are today expected to converge for a pre-hearing meeting between 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Senate chambers within Parliament, followed by a reading of charges between 10.30 to 11 a.m.

Representatives from the office of the Clerk or lawyers will then give an opening statement on behalf of the National Assembly for thirty minutes before the lawyers representing Deputy President  is allowed 30 minutes for their opening statement.

The representatives from the National Assembly will then be allowed to table evidence and call witnesses to testify before the Senators and for this, they have been allocated three hours. DP Gachagua’s team has been allocated 2 hours for cross-examination.

The final session of the day will include questions or requests for clarification by Senators which has been slotted for between 6.30 pm to 7.30 pm. The House will then adjourn.

On Thursday (tommorrow) morning, DP Gachagua’s legal team will be allocated a total three hours to mount a defense through presentations and calling of witnesses. Thereafter, the National Assembly representatives will be given two hours for cross examination.

Between 3.30 and 4.30 pm senators will be allotted time to field questions and seek clarifications. Lawyers from the National Assembly will be expected to give their closing statement between 4.30pm and 5.30 pm. Gachagua’s defense team will then give its defense for an hour.

The debate on the on the proposed removal from office, by impeachment, of Rigathi Gachagua will then be debated before 6.30 pm and 8.30 pm followed by the voting process.

Notably, for the DP to be impeached a total 45 Senators need to vote in favour of the motion. 

Other contenders on the list include Muranga Governor Irungu Kangáta, Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga and Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome.

Also in the fray are Leader of Majority at the National Assembly Kimani Ichung’wah, Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro, Laikipia East MP Mwangi Kiunjuri, former Laikipia Governor Ndiritu Muriithi, and former Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe.