After the Senate set aside dates for the plenary hearing of the impeachment motion against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Speaker Amason Kingi has released the schedule for the session.
The hearing will take place between October 16 and October 17, 2024, after the National Assembly passed the motion to remove Gachagua from office for gross misconduct and undermining the presidency.
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Day 1-Wednesday, October 16
There are several activities scheduled for the first day of the plenary session in Senate. The process, according to a program released by the Senate will commence on Wednesday, October 16, at 9:00 am.
Senators will first hold a pre-hearing meeting in a closed session from 9.00am-10.00am on Wednesday morning.
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The pre-hearing will set the stage for other preliminaries including the recital of the mandate of the Senate, rules of procedure and hearing programme and introduction of Members of the National Assembly representing the National Assembly, and their Counsel, if any, between 10.00 am-10.30 am.
The Deputy President and his Counsel will also be offered a chance of introducing themselves in the first stages.
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Other events on Wednesday
- 10.30 am-11.00 am- Reading of the Charges
- 11:00 am-11:30 am- Opening statement on behalf of the National Assembly to last 30 minutes
- 11:30 am-12:00 noon- Opening statement on behalf of the Deputy President scheduled for 30 minutes
- 12:00 noon-1.00 pm- Evidence by the National Assembly (evidence of witnesses, if any, presented and cross-examination and re-examination conducted); 3 hours for the evidence of the National Assembly and 2 hours for cross- examination
- 1:00 pm-2.30 pm- Lunch Break
- 2.30 pm-6.30 pm- Evidence by the National Assembly (Evidence of witnesses, if any, cross-examination and re-examination)
- 6:30 pm-7.30 pm- Questions and requests for Clarification by Senators
- 6:30 pm-7.30 pm- Questions and requests for Clarification by Senators Adjournment.
Also Read: Profiles of 14 Lawyers Who Will Defend Gachagua in Senate
Day 2-Thursday, October 17, 2024
On the second day of October 17, 2024, the deputy president will present evidence from 9:00am to 3:30pm. The embattled DP will also have the opportunity of presenting witnesses, if any, followed by cross-examination and re-examination.
Three hours have been set aside for Gachagua to present evidence and two hours for cross- examination.
There will be a lunch break from 1.00 pm to 2.30 pm.
After that, the programme is as follows:
- 3.30 pm-4.30 pm- Questions and Requests for clarification by senators
- 4:30 pm-5:30 pm- Closing statement on behalf of the National Assembly set for 60 minutes
- 5:30 pm-6:30 pm- Closing statement on behalf of the Deputy President scheduled for 60 minutes
- 6:30 pm-8:30 pm- Debate on the motion on the proposed removal from office, by impeachment, of His Excellency Rigathi Gachagua.
- 8:30 pm- Voting and adjournment
High Court Rules on Gachagua’s as Senate Prepares for Impeachment Motion
This comes after the High Court on Friday, October 11, 2024, referred petitions challenging Gachagua’s ouster to the Chief Justice Martha Koome.
Also Read: What Happens If Gachagua Survives Impeachment – Experts
Justice Lawrence Mugambi ruled that the matter needed to be determined by more than one judge.
“Considering the massive public interest this matter raises its my considered opinion this matter requires the input of a bench. It will require the mind of more than one bench,” he ruled.
Two thirds of senators in the house comprising 67 members in total, including 47 elected and 20 nominated, are needed to pass the impeachment motion against Gachagua.
A minimum of 45 senators are required to support the impeachment motion to remove the deputy president from office.
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