Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s security detail withdrawn, flag removed from his official car at Karen Hospital. Officials confirmed the decision followed Speaker of the Senate Amason Kingi’s gazettement of Gachagua’s impeachment.
Gachagua was admitted to Karen Hospital in Nairobi during his impeachment on Thursday night. Security had been intensified at the hospital before the impeachment occurred. However, it was reduced after midnight when the gazette notice was issued.
This reduction in security also affected most of Gachagua’s properties, where armed security had previously been present. “The security measures were adjusted in line with the recent developments,” an official stated.
Gachagua had relocated from his official residence in Karen to his private residence days before the impeachment. This move indicated his awareness of the impending political storm.
Previously, Gachagua benefited from the protection of over 50 officers from the General Service Unit’s Recce Unit, which also provides security to the president. Additional support came from officers in the General Duty and Administration Police Service.
The Senate voted to uphold five out of eleven charges against Gachagua.
It was then that Speaker Kingi gazetted the move and announced his removal from office.
“….. pursuant to Articles 145 (7) and 150 (1) (b) and (2) of the Constitution and Standing Order 78 (8) of the Senate Standing Orders, on Thursday, 17th October. 2024, the Senate resolved to remove from office, by impeachment, His Excellency Rigathi Gachagua, E.G.H.. Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya on the following grounds,” he said.
The grounds included gross violation of Articles 10 (2) (a). (b) and (c): 27 (4). 73 (1) (a) and (2) (b): 75 (L) (c), and 129 (2) of the Constitution and Article 147 (I, as read together with Article 131 (2) (c) and (d) of the Constitution and gross violation of Article 160 (1) of the Constitution on the Institutional and Decisional Independence of Judges.
The others were gross violation of Articles 3 (1) and 148 (5) (a) of the Constitution on the fidelity to the Oath of Office and Allegiance, serious reasons to believe that H.E. the Deputy President has committed crimes under sections 13 (1) (a) and 62 of the National Cohesion and Integration Act and gross misconduct that is incompatible with the high calling and dignified status of the Office of the Deputy President and a member of the Cabinet and the National Security Council, H.E the Deputy President where he has publicly attacked and undermined the work of the National Intelligence Security and its officers.
He becomes the first deputy president to be impeached in Kenya’s history.
