The High court of Kenya has issued an order compelling the National Assembly to conduct a second round of public participation in the impeachment motion against Deputy President (DP) Rigathi Gachagua.
This is as the initial public participation exercise on the impeachment motion, which was announced by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, commenced on Friday, October 4 morning across all 47 counties.
In a ruling on Friday, the High court ordered a fresh exercise at the constituency level to cover a wider scope of participants.
Kirinyaga Women Representative Jane Njeri Maina had on Wednesday filed a petition at the High Court in Kerugoya, Kirinyaga County, challenging the adequacy and the effectiveness of public participation which began today.
The lawmaker in her petition argued that the ongoing debate on DP Gachagua’s impeachment was a matter of national concern that required full public engagement.
Njeri urged the court to compel Speaker Wetang’ula to direct public participation to be conducted at Sub-County levels against the initial directive that it be done at the County level.
The court in the ruling has deemed the public participation currently being undertaken at the County level insufficient, thereby ordering an expanded public participation exercise to allow all Kenyans to express their opinion on the special motion.
Also Read: Gachagua Impeachment Live Updates: Alfred Mutua Leads Public Participation
Court issues fresh orders on public participation
According to the court, the public hearings which commenced on October 4 may proceed as a first stage of public participation.
“That the public hearings to be held on 4th October 2024 may proceed as a first stage of public participation; and that the 1st to 5th Respondents shall organize similar public hearings closer to the citizens at least at constituency level on each constituency in Kenya to enable the constituents of Members of Parliament responsible for the impeachment process nationally to engage with and participate on hearings and/or any other level can participate and offer their representations,” reads part of the ruling.
The ruling following Njeri’s attempt to challenge the National Assembly’s decision on how to conduct the public engagement came after the latter had already proceeded to undertake the exercise at County levels across the country.
Also Read: Gachagua Impeachment: How to Fill and Submit Form to Save or Kick Out DP
The exercise commenced in most centers across the country but has since been marred by challenges leading to confrontations among delegates.
Residents in the Mt. Kenya region counties of Nyeri, Murang’a, Nakuru and Kiambu took to the streets to protest against the government’s decision to conduct the exercise in paperwork. The locals instead, demanded that public participation be done using digital means.
In addition, Nyeri and Kiambu residents protested against the attempt to kick out the DP claiming that he was elected alongside President William Ruto and hence dismissing one would require the other to step aside as well.
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