Kenyans will on Saturday, October 5, 2024, get a second chance to give their views on the Special Motion on Removal from Office by Impeachment of Deputy President (DP) Rigathi Gachagua through a public participation exercise.
The participation is being conducted for the second day running after Kenyans across all 47 counties in the country participated in the exercise on Friday following a directive by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula.
Speaker Wetang’ula while addressing the House on Tuesday, October 1, emphasized that the motion cannot proceed without the involvement of the public after the impeachment proposal was tabled by Kibwezi West Member of Parliament (MP) Mwengi Mutuse.
Following the announcement, the National Assembly announced that the process would be undertaken on Friday across the 290 constituencies to be coordinated from 47 specific locations in each of the counties that were published by the government.
On Friday evening, the National Assembly Clerk in a statement announced the extension of the exercise by one day after the Kerugoya High Court recognized the public hearings and ordered the House to organize similar hearings at the constituency level.
Here are the live updates of the second day of the Public Participation exercise of the proposed removal from office, by impeachment, of DP Rigathi Gachagua.
1:22pm: Exercise in Meru
Constituents stream in the public participation centers of South Imenti, North Imenti, Tigania West, Igembe Central constituencies and the Meru County Woman Representative’s Office.
1:00pm Low turn out
Low turn out reported in various constituencies such as Mathira, Limuru and in Kisumu County as most constituents abstain the exercise.
12:30pm: Security beefed up
Security in Nyeri County beefed up as armed officers patrol public participation centers.
9:55am: Exercise kicks off in Kakamega
Parliamentary Officers facilitating public participation on the Special Motion engage members of the public at the Lugari Constituency Office in Matete, Kakamega County.
9:50am: Low turn out
Low turn out reported in Nakuru as most constituents abstain the exercise. Citizen TV reports that no one had arrived at one of the centers in the County by 9:40am.
9:30am: Process kicks off in several centers around the country
Residents from different constituencies in the country have started streaming into allocated centers to express their views in the proposed impeachment.
Also, residents in counties such as Kisii and Nyeri express their views on the media.
8:27am: Recap of Friday’s exercise
The National Assembly releases a recap on how the Public Participation exercise went down in Kakamega County yesterday.
Saturday 8:03am: Parliament issues update on second day of public participation
The National Assembly provides an update on the Public Participation exercise, announcing that it continues as planned nationwide today.
Here’s how things went down on the first day of the Public Participation exercise:
4:00pm: Public Participation deadline extended
The National Assembly has extended the public participation exercise by one day to Saturday October 5, 2024, from 8:00am t0 5:00pm.
Also Read: Gachagua Impeachment: Confusion as Court Orders Fresh Public Participation
This is aimed at allowing constituents of MPs involved in the impeachment process to engage and participate in hearings or other suitable methods, enabling citizens at the constituency level to present their views and representations.
12:56pm: CS Alfred Mutua joins exercise
Labour Cabinet Secretary (CS) Alfred Mutua leads Machakos residents in the public participation exercise on the impeachment motion.
Also Read: Ruto CS Under Pressure to Resign Over Gachagua Ouster Campaign
12:07pm: Public participation in Bomas ends
The public participation exercise at the Bomas of Kenya in Nairobi has ended. Earlier, chaos were witnessed at the venue where activist Morara was injured in the scuffle.
11:35pm: “Gachagua Must Go” chants erupt
“Gachagua Must Go” chants erupt in Murang’a County.
11:31am: Public participation in Kirinyaga
Residents of Kirinyaga County stream into Kirinyaga NGCDF center to express their views on proposed impeachment.
11:21am: Morara rushed to hospital
Lawyer-turned activist Morara Kebaso says he has been rushed to hospital after being hurt in an attack at the Bomas of Kenya.
Morara was attacked shortly after he arrived with his convoy to submit his views on the impeachment motion.
Addressing the chillingly terrifying commotion, Morara explained the circumstances that led to the skirmish.
“I was barred from entering Bomas at the gate. When I finally got in, I was denied the mic at BOMAS floor. Chaos erupted. I am hurt. Headed to hospital. I live to speak another day,” said Morara shortly in a post on X after the scuffle.
11:13am: “No Gachagua No Ruto chants erupt in Nakuru
“No Gachagua, No Ruto” chants erupt in Nakuru as residents take to the street to demonstrate against DP Gachagua’s impeachment motion.
11:15am: Kasmuel McOure Blasted After Addressing Kenyans at Bomas
Artist-turned-activist Kasmuel McOure addressed Kenyans after he was given a chance to address the Bomas crowd.
Kasmuel went straight to the politics of the day, appearing to be speaking the same language with the Members of Parliament.
Without wasting time, the activist went into his full mode, waxing lyrical on his reasons as to why Gachagua should leave office, not once mentioning that President William Ruto too, who he has steadfastly been fighting against, should also leave his seat.
As he spoke, Ruaraka MP TJ Kajwang can be seen standing behind him, proudly smiling.
“Gachagua must go!” Kasmuel roars. “Ndio tumalize ukabila Kenya, ndio tumalize shareholders, ndio tumalize siasa ya kuchanganya watu, Gachagua must go!” said McOure
Dagoretti South MP John Kiarie (KJ), who is seated right behind the podium, is also seen clapping and nodding at Kasmuel’s propositions.
However, soon after the video made rounds online, many Kenyans took to their X accounts to call out the activist, terming him a sellout for failing to articulate things that matter most to the common mwananchi.
Kenyans blasted Kasmuel for what they termed as his perceived inclination towards the powers-that-be, appearing to be in bed with the government and out of touch with the disenfranchised Gen Z he purports to represent.
Also, McOure was under fire from a section of Kenyans for failing to address the Morara Kebaso attack where the INJECT part leader was violently booted out of the Bomas of Kenya hall after enduring a vicious attack from an angry mob.
11:11am: Nairobi Police commander arrives at Bomas
Nairobi police boss Adamson Bungei spotted at the Bomas of Kenya following chaos where lawyer Morara Kebaso was attacked.
10:55am: Morara Kebaso attacked
INJECT party leader Morara Kebaso attacked at the Bomas of Kenya. He was attacked after a scuffle erupted at the venue.
Morara, who had gone to join Kenyans for the Gachagua impeachment public participation, was preparing to make a presentation at the Bomas Hall when goons quickly descended on him, throwing chairs and brazenly attempting to beat him up.
In videos seen by The Kenya Times, unidentified rowdy youth threw chairs towards Morara’s direction as he was being evacuated to safety.
The incident starts when a rather shaken Morara can be seen settled in his seat as chairs fly from all corners, all aimed at him.
As the chaos continues, Morara is forced to duck for cover, but this worsens matters as the charged crowd continues to throw chairs, with many angling to get a hold of him.
Cameras at some point show a shaken Morara pushed to a corner as the angry mob continues baying for his blood. Even after being escorted from the venue, the riotous gangs still follow him down the hallway.
Amidst it all, Ruaraka lawmaker TJ Kajwang, who is holding the microphone, can be heard egging the goons on, seemingly encouraging them to teach Morara the ways of the city by keeping up with the ruckus. “Nairobi Hoyeee!” he repeatedly hollers. “Hii ndio utamu ya Nairobi!”
Police were deployed at the scene to contain the chaos.
10:53am: Nyeri residents chant in the streets
“No Gachagua, No Government” – Nyeri residents storm out of the public participation venue to protest against the impeachment motion, citing that they were offered bribes to support the bid.
The chants erupted into chaos as they barricaded major roads including the Nyeri-Nyahururu highway and ignited bonfires, chanting: “No Rigathi, No Government.”
“Unapea watu form wasign ati upatie watu mia tano. Hatutaki hiyo mia tano…tunajua kujitaftia…No Rigathi…no government,” one resident stated.
Also Read: Gachagua Impeachment: How to Fill and Submit Form to Save or Kick Out DP
10:41am: Chaos erupt in Nakuru
Two rival groups in Nakuru County engaged in a scuffle during the public participation exercise.
10:37am: Police deployed in Nyeri
Anti-riot Police officers deployed in Nyeri town after residents took to the streets demonstrating and chanting.
The Nyeri residents chanted “No Rigathi, No Ruto,” ahead of the public participation exercise.
10:14am: “Fagia Wote” chants at Bomas
Chants of “Kufa dereva, kufa makanga” and “#Fagia Wote” heard renting the air at the Bomas of Kenya, with the residents breaking into song and dance.
The phrase, which has become a phenomenon, means that if the DP gets impeached, his boss should also leave office since they came in together as a package deal.
“Tumechoka kuambiwa flani ni mbaya na flani ni mzuri. Embe moja ikioza kwa kikapu, yote yameoza. Nasema kufa dereva, kufa makanga na hashtag inapaswa kuwa fagiawote,” said a resident from Starehe.
Another Nairobi resident pointed out, “Hii serikali ni sisi tulichagua. Ikiwa Gachagua ni mbaya, hata Ruto ni mbaya. Wote waende. Hakuna kubakisha mtu; kufa dereva, kufa makanga.”
9:40am: Nairobi venue changed
Changes of the collection center for public views from all Constituencies in Nairobi County in regard to the impeachment motion have been made.
The venue has been moved from the Kenyatta International Conventional Center (KICC) to the Bomas of Kenya.
Earlier, at around 8:44am, it was all systems go at the Bomas of Kenya.
The National Assembly in an update said that Kenyans started streaming in the venue as early as 6.00 am to fill in the provided questionnaires, with the public participation exercise scheduled to run the whole day.
9:33am: Process kicks off in Kajiado
Residents in Kajiado County throng the Maasai Training Institute, Kajiado to express their views on the proposed impeachment.
“The Exercise is underway today in accordance with article 118 of the Constitution of Kenya,” said the National Assembly in an update.
9:12am: Process kicks off in Uasin Gishu
Residents of Uasin Gishu County are streaming into the Uasin Gishu County Government’s Hall to express their views in the proposed impeachment.
8:37am: Public Participation on the motion kicks off in Meru County, with the arrival and registration of residents of its nine constituencies to undertake the exercise at Kamunde Hall in Meru Town.
Friday 8am: Change of venues
The National Assembly has since announced changes of the public participation venues and form collection centers which is set to affect a total number of 24 constituencies.
In a notice on Friday, the National Assembly announced changes for 3 venues spread out in the counties of Embu, Nakuru and Bungoma. In Embu, constituents from Manyatta, Runyenjes, Mbeere South and Mbeere North will convene at Talent Academy.
In Nakuru all constituents will convene at the Nakuru ASK Showground. Bungoma County venue on the other hand was changed to Kanduyi Airstrip.
Earlier
According to the notice issued by the National Assembly clerk Samuel Njoroge, the public participation exercise of the DP Gachagua impeachment motion will be conducted from 8 am to 5 pm spearheaded by officers from Parliament’s secretariat.
Kenyans who will not be physically present at the venues on the other hand have an option of filling special forms developed by the National Assembly.
The parliament further directed that filled templates may be delivered to a venue/collection center indicated in the schedule of Public Hearings on 4th October 2024.
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