Africa-Press – Kenya. The National Assembly was treated to a brief spectacle on Tuesday, October 8 as Ruaraka Member of Parliament TJ Kajwang openly clashed with his Githunguri counterpart Gathoni Wamuchomba over the impeachment of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
It all kicked off when Kajwang pleaded his case on why he would vote yes on the motion to impeach the besieged DP. According to Kajwang, Gachagua did not have national interests at heart, and assumed office for personal gain.
“His mentality is that he got votes for President Ruto and now it is time to eat,” Kajwang said, adding ,”For that reason only, I would vote because I want a situation where we are through with elections, everyone including me is served because I pay taxes.”
At this point, Wamuchomba, a fierce defender of Gachagua, interjected to slam Kajwang for his comments, saying there were no mechanisms to measure mentality.
“Mr Speaker, is honourable Kajwang is in order to say the Deputy President has a mentality to eat? Does he have a gadget to measure mentality? Is that a fact? Can he prove it?” She posed amid a heated house which heckled him.
Kajwang, who was clearly agitated by Wamuchomba’s remarks and pronunciation of his name, retorted by vowing to ensure Gachagua was ousted as Deputy President.
It came as no surprise that Wamuchomba was keen on backing Gachagua, despite the odds heavily stacked against the DP’s favour. The Githunguri MP has in the past claimed Gachagua has been a target since his days in UDA by political leaders who wanted Interior CS Kithure Kindiki to become the second in command.
The bigger picture: At the moment, Gachagua faces an uphill task in battling his impeachment motion, with at least 291 legislators appearing to back his ouster.
His decision to go on a televised media briefing to defend himself from damaging allegations of amassing KSh 5.2 billion in wealth in two years appears to have done more harm than good, as Kibwezi West MP Mutuse Mwengi used Gachagua’s sentiments on Monday evening as ammunition to further strengthen his case against the DP.
After tabling at least 11 accusations against Gachagua, Mutuse insisted he had sufficient evidence against the DP, urging other Members of Parliament to back his motion, saying: “As you rise to vote please have the best interest of your people at heart. I urge you as one of your colleagues, when this motion is finally put to vote, please vote to impeach Rigathi Gachagua.”
Gachagua will also get the chance to state his case before MPs, after which they will decide whether to impeach him or not. If the impeachment motion passes, the verdict will move to the Senate, which will conduct a trial on the charges tabled against him.
The Senators will ultimately vote on whether Gachagua should be impeached after listening to both parties’ arguments. If impeached, Gachagua will ultimately cease to hold office, although his only glimmer of hope would be moving to court to challenge the verdict.
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