Senator Karungo Thangwa of Kiambu has issued a fierce demand to Parliament, calling for a significant overhaul of how Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s impeachment motion will be handled.
Thangwa’s key demand is a live debate with full access for Kenyans nationwide. His move comes in response to what he views as the exclusion of the public from Friday’s participation session on the matter.
The senator’s letter, directed to Senate Speaker Amason Kingi and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula, challenges the lack of transparency. Thangwa argues that Kenyans have been sidelined in the process, and he insists that the debate, scheduled for Tuesday, October 8, 2024, must be public. “Citizens deserve to witness this crucial moment firsthand,” Thangwa stated in his letter, making it clear that this is a right, not a request.
His frustrations stem from the limited participation on Friday, October 4. According to the senator, only 47 polling stations out of over 46,000 were made available for public input. This, he highlighted, amounts to a mere 0.1 per cent of the population, an engagement he believes undermines the democratic values of inclusivity and transparency enshrined in Kenya’s Constitution. “Such a limited exercise makes a mockery of our constitutional principles,” Thangwa added.
A collage of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Senator Karungo Thangwa of Kiambu, October 5.
Photo
Kenyans.co.ke
Beyond just access, Thangwa is pushing for the debate to be held in a larger venue. With Parliament’s galleries able to accommodate only 300 members of the public, he is proposing the Kasarani Stadium as a possible alternative. The senator believes the gravity of this impeachment demands national attention akin to that seen during the swearing-in of President William Ruto and his deputy after the 2022 elections.
In a move that signals how serious he is about public involvement, Thangwa also called for nationwide viewing centres. His idea is to have large screens set up in major stadiums across the country, allowing Kenyans who cannot attend the debate in person to witness the proceedings from their counties. “We cannot allow geographical limitations to deny citizens their right to see justice done,” he declared.
The senator’s demands come as tensions rise ahead of the upcoming debate. Friday’s public hearings saw thousands of Kenyans turning up in various regions, with significant chaos breaking out in the Mt. Kenya area. Rival factions clashed, with some calling for Gachagua’s removal, while others insisted that President Ruto should also face scrutiny. The protests were particularly intense in Nyeri, where accusations flew of pre-marked ballots pushing for the deputy president’s impeachment.
Meanwhile, the proceedings at Nairobi’s Bomas of Kenya were equally charged, with hundreds showing up to express their views. Ruaraka MP TJ Kajwang struggled to maintain order as the crowd grew more vocal, with chants of “Ruto Must Go” filling the air. Activist Morara Kebaso was physically assaulted by a group opposing his anti-Gachagua stance.
In the midst of this, some MPs aligned with Deputy President Gachagua have raised concerns about the fairness of the process. Dagoretti North’s Beatrice Elachi and Mathare’s Anthony Oluoch, among others, voiced scepticism over how the public hearings were conducted. Elachi pointed out that the focus on Gachagua’s impeachment feels politically motivated, questioning why President Ruto’s name was being invoked in the process.
The National Assembly responded to the rising concerns by extending the public participation period by an extra day. Clerk Samuel Njoroge’s notice stated that Kenyans would now have an additional opportunity to provide their input on Saturday, October 5. With 290 constituency offices and 47 Woman Representative offices opened for submissions, the public is being urged to make their voices heard before the crucial debate.
As pressure mounts on Parliament, all eyes are now on Tuesday’s session. With Thangwa pushing for a fully public debate and rival factions ready to clash, the future of Deputy President Gachagua hangs in the balance.
Rigathi Gachagua and Kithure Kindiki at a past function. PHOTO/ State House.
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