As the plot to impeach Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua continues to gain momentum, the second in command on Saturday unveiled a team of top legal minds who will challenge his ouster.
The legal team will be led by Senior Counsels; Paul Mwite, Victor Swanya, Tom Macharia, Amos Kisilu and Elisha Ongoya.
Gachagua’s lawyers who spoke to the press noted that they would defend the second in command against all the accusations levelled against him by the MPs backing the motion.
In particular, the lawyers noted that they would challenge the decision to only allocate two days for public participation arguing this limited time is inconsistent with the constitution which seeks to give adequate time for citizens to air their views making the recent process, in their view, inadequate and ineffective.
Senior Counsel Paul Muite argues in court in 2017
“We have looked through the accusations of his excellency the deputy president and we are prepared,” Swanya told the press.
DP Gachagua through his lawyers will also demand the removal of the National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula and his deputy, Gladys Boss Shollei from participating in the impeachment process since they have already pronounced themselves on the matter.
According to the lawyers, the duo who were supposed to be impartial on such a sensitive matter, publicly intimated they support Gachagua’s ouster which effectively means they are not neutral.
“You are giving notice now, and people wake up about what to be on that particular day, how fair is that? For the sake of natural justice, I think the two principal officers should recuse themselves,” Swanya said.
The lawyers further noted that they would move to the Supreme Court if push comes to shove.
On Tuesday, October 1, the Speaker of the National Assembly announced that the embattled deputy president would have a chance to defend himself before his impeachment is decided. Wetangula disclosed that Gachagua would have two hours on October 8, 2024, during which he would be expected to mount his defence.
The motion will be considered following the completion of the public participation exercise that ended on Saturday, October 5.
Once the motion is handled at the National Assembly, Speaker Moses Wetangula will then inform the Speaker of the Senate Amason Kingi who will then take over the matter.
Speaker Kingi will then convene a Senate plenary within seven days during which the motion shall be heard and a committee established to interrogate the allegations within ten days.Â
Parliament officials led by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula and Senate Speaker Amason Kingi hosted journalists to review the current situation in the institution and re-assure the Media of a continued cordial partnership.
Moses Wetang’ula
