Speaker of the Senate Amason Kingi has sternly warned Senators against making public comments on the impeachment process against the Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
Kingi, while speaking during a plenary session on Wednesday, said, “Honourable Senators must not publicly discuss the merits or otherwise of the impeachment motion.” According to the Speaker, the same would be in contravention of Standing Order 99, that will stop anticipation of debate.
Kingi warned that any public utterances would amount to gross disorderly conduct under Standing Order 122. “Comments, whether written or spoken, about the Deputy President or the impeachment process are unacceptable,” he said. “Such remarks may prejudice the just outcome of the process.”
It was an unprecedented situation, Kingi said, adding: “This is the first proposal to remove a Deputy President by impeachment.”.
He called Senators to take a sober reflection of their mandate. “This historic impeachment affords the Senate an opportunity to demonstrate fealty to the Constitution,” he said.
Earlier, the Senate Speaker had gazetted a morning session to debate charges that could see Gachagua removed from office. This followed a formal communication from National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula on the resolution adopted by the Impeachment of Gachagua.
The letter was written by the Clerk of the National Assembly, Samuel Njoroge, and dated October 9, 2024.
In a historic vote on Tuesday, 281 Members of Parliament voted in support of the impeachment motion, exceeding the two-thirds majority threshold provided by the Constitution.
The motion spearheaded by Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse accused Gachagua of various violations including violation of the Constitution, making discriminatory statements in public, and undermining the presidency.
Now that the matter is before the Senate for deliberation, its role is critical to ensure that decorum and fairness are observed in what is arguably a historic proceeding. Kingi’s warnings come in handy.
