Senate Speaker Amason Kingi issued a directive on October 8, 2024, placing an immediate suspension on all international travel for senators until October 19. This suspension, Kingi stated, is aimed at ensuring full attendance and participation during the historic hearings, underscoring the importance of the legislative body’s undivided focus on the matter at hand.
Kingi stressed that all Senate committees must also suspend activities outside Nairobi, ensuring that senators remain physically present to deliberate and vote on Gachagua’s impeachment.
The restrictions follow the National Assembly’s decision, where 282 members voted in favor of the impeachment, with 41 opposing the motion. Kingi maintains that the travel ban is necessary to prevent distractions or disruptions that could compromise the integrity of the proceedings.
The Senate hearings officially began on Wednesday mid-morning today, marking the start of a 10-day process to investigate the charges brought leveled against DP Gachagua. One of the significant moments of the session is Senator Edwin Sifuna’s opposition to a motion put forth by Senator Aaron Cheruiyot.
Cheruiyot had sought to establish an 11-member committee to handle the impeachment hearing, but Sifuna declined to support the move and instead vouched for the matter to be handled by the entire Senate. This he said would ensure transparency and accountability in the process.
The trial will delve deeper into 11 charges against Mr. Gachagua, including accusations of abuse of office and corruption. Invitations have been sent to Gachagua, offering him the chance to present his defense, and to the mover of the impeachment motion, who will lay out the case. All responses are expected by October 14, after which the Senate will proceed with plenary hearings on October 16 and 17.
The travel ban reflects the weight of Gachagua’s impeachment, which has garnered widespread public attention. It is the first time a sitting Deputy President in Kenya has faced such charges, and the outcome of the proceedings could have significant political ramifications.
Speaking to RTC News on the phone, Senator Sifuna concurred with the speaker’s action by terming the Gachagua case as a ‘very serious’ one
As the hearings unfold, the entire nation is closely watching the Senate’s handling of this unprecedented trial. The Senate’s decision will determine whether Gachagua retains his position or is ousted from office, marking a pivotal moment in Kenya’s political history.
