POLITICS

The government has ordered over 100 employees from the office of the former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to take compulsory leave. The statement was released 19th October by the Principal Administrative Secretary Patrick Mwangi. The Deputy President had been impeached by the Senate with over 45 senators finding him guilty of five charges out of 11 charges. This meant that he had been sacked and could no longer hold the office. A new Deputy President was nominated awaiting the National Assembly to approve. This lead to an order of compulsory leave of over 100 employees who were working on the office of the Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. The statement said that all officers in job groups T and U were instructed to proceed on compulsory leave with immediate effect. The statement stated further that all heads of departments had to ensure that they designated in writing a responsible officer to be in-charge of their respective departments with a copy to the Chief of staff and the Principal Administrative Secretary. All serving officers in Supernumerary contracts were also ordered to proceed on compulsory leave with immediate effect. With the sudden compulsory leave, all Heads of Departments were to ensure that the directions given had taken place before the end of the day.

High court has differed former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s impeachment motion. The impeachment motion was held on 17th October and the notion to impeach Gachagua was upheld by the senate. This caused Gachagua to file a petition seeking to stop President William Ruto from filling the position of the Deputy President after Gachagua had been found guilty of 5 out of 11 charges filed against him that had been presented before the senate. Gachagua’s legal team had announced that he was sick and had been hospitalized, this made not to make a physical appearance to defend himself. This made Gachagua feel that the parliament had rushed to conclude his impeachment and replace him. Gachagua added in his petition that he was denied a chance to defend himself as he was impeached while admitted at the hospital. Gachagua’s legal team had suggested that the hearing should be pushed to a later date. Senator Amason Kingi left the decision to the senators as he said he was not in a position to conclude the matter. After the Senate found Gachagua guilty of 5 charges, they immediately impeached him. With this, the President immediately nominated Kithure Kindiki. News had spread that he had unanimously approved the nomination. It is said that the ruling came after the alleged approved nomination.  

Gachagua moves to court to challenge his impeachment. The former DP was impeached by the senate despite him being admitted at Karen Hospital. Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s legal team has moved to court to challenge Rigathi Gachagua’s impeachment. The team led by Senior Counsel Paul Muite,criticizes the Senate plenary’s decision noting that the impeachment took place in the absence of the former deputy president who was a key witness. Gachagua’s legal team had initially promised to move to court if the Senate resolved to impeach the former deputy president.  Senior Counsel Victor Swanya who spoke to the press earlier this month noted that they would seek legal avenues in case the Senate declined to subvert the National Assembly’s decision. The former deputy president was on Thursday evening impeached after a majority of the Senators voted in favour of the impeachment motion. Gachagua  becomes the first deputy president to be removed from office  through impeachment since the implementation of the 2010 constitution.