Kenya's High Court Rejects Bid to Halt Impeachment Debate

NAIROBI, Kenya - Kenya's High Court has dismissed an application by lawyers representing Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, clearing the way for the Senate to debate his impeachment. The decision was handed down by Justice Chacha Mwita on Tuesday, asserting that parliamentary proceedings should not be impeded.

The impeachment motion against Gachagua, who faces allegations of corruption and inciting anti-government protests, was passed in the National Assembly with a vote of 281 to 44 last week. The Senate is scheduled to commence hearings on Wednesday.

Gachagua, who vehemently denies the charges, has vowed to legally contest any move to oust him. In a related development, Chief Justice Martha Koome has appointed a three-judge panel to address legal challenges lodged against the impeachment process.

Public discourse on Gachagua's potential removal has sparked both support and opposition, with minor clashes reported last week. President William Ruto has not commented on the matter directly, though he previously expressed intentions to maintain a decorous relationship with his deputy, contrasting with his own experience under former President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The Senate now holds a critical role in this political drama, needing a two-thirds majority to finalize Gachagua's impeachment, which would mark a historic event in Kenyan politics if successful.

GAROWE ONLINE