Rigathi Gachagua, former deputy president, has been removed from office in a landmark Senate vote, bringing an abrupt end to his two-year tenure as the country’s second-in-command.
The historic decision effectively bars Gachagua from holding any public office in the future, a monumental fall for the once-rising political force who had sought to position himself as a key powerbroker in the country.
The Senate’s impeachment of Gachagua marks the first time in Kenya’s history that a deputy president has been removed from office, a testament to the deeply fractured political landscape.
After weeks of tense proceedings, the Senate, in a decisive vote, upheld a series of charges against Gachagua, including corruption, ethnic discrimination, and insubordination of President William Ruto.
The impeachment motion, brought forward by the National Assembly, also included accusations of manipulating his late brother’s estate for personal gain.
Gachagua’s impeachment sets in motion an irreversible consequence under Kenyan law: individuals who are impeached and removed from office are legally barred from holding any public office again.
For Gachagua, this marks the end of a political career that saw him rise from Member of Parliament for Mathira to deputy president within a few short years, only to be undone by accusations of misconduct and the bitter political fallout with President Ruto.
The decision has sent shockwaves through the Kenyan political arena, with analysts calling it a “watershed moment” for the country’s constitutional checks and balances.
Gachagua’s downfall also signals a potential shift in the balance of power in the Mount Kenya region, where he had been positioning himself as a dominant political figure.
Throughout the impeachment process, Gachagua maintained his innocence, dismissing the charges as politically motivated.
His legal team, led by renowned attorney Paul Muite, had sought to adjourn the Senate proceedings, citing Gachagua’s health issues after he reportedly suffered severe chest pains and was admitted to Karen Hospital.
However, the Senate rejected calls for an extension, opting instead to proceed with the vote.
Despite his legal team’s walkout, citing an inability to proceed without their client, the Senate forged ahead with the impeachment vote.
In the end, Gachagua failed to secure the support of the 23 senators required to derail the motion, sealing his fate.
Both allies of President Ruto and opposition leader Raila Odinga’s camp came together in a rare moment of unity to push through the impeachment.
With his removal, Gachagua’s political career appears to be in ruins, unless a court overturns the impeachment.
Legal experts say that while he could pursue a judicial appeal, the likelihood of such an outcome remains uncertain, leaving the deputy president with few options to salvage his career.
Gachagua’s rise and fall have been swift. Once seen as a close ally of President Ruto, the relationship between the two soured as accusations of corruption and ethnic bias engulfed Gachagua’s tenure.
His attempt to galvanize support within the Mount Kenya region also fueled tensions, with some accusing him of advancing the interests of his ethnic community at the expense of national unity.
In a country where political comebacks are not uncommon, Gachagua may still try to fight for his future.
But for now, his once-promising career has come to a halt, with the impeachment serving as a stark reminder of the weight of Kenya’s constitutional mechanisms and the precarious nature of political power.
As Kenya turns its attention to who will replace Gachagua as deputy president, the fallout from his impeachment will likely reverberate for years to come, shaping both the Ruto administration and the wider political landscape.
Related: Sakaja Explains Why He Skipped Testifying Against Gachagua In Senate
