Protests broke out in Mathira constituency in Nyeri county in the night of Tuesday, October 8, 2024, following the impeachment of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua by Members of Parliament (MPs).
Members of the National Assembly on Tuesday night overwhelmingly voted to impeach DP Gachagua.
A total number of 281 MPs voted in favor of the motion to send home Gachagua while 44 opposed the ouster of the DP, with just one abstention.
The lawmakers took the vote moments after President William Ruto‘s deputy put up a spirited fight to defend himself in the chambers.
Following the voting, residents in DP Gachagua’s backyard of Mathira took to the streets in the night to express their dissatisfaction.
Videos seen by The Kenya Times showed the residents lit a bonfire on a road.
“People from Mathira are not happy with the decision made by the MPs. All they wanted is for Rigathi to be heard and be given a chance because he has done good work in the government,” said one resident.
Shortly after the protests erupted, both uniformed and ununiformed police officers were deployed to contain the situation.
Journalists roughed up as protests break out in Mathira
Some residents were seen scampered away from several police officers who were in anti-riot gear.
The officers could be heard instructing locals with shops open to close down their businesses and head home.
Amidst the melee, some journalists who were covering the incident were roughed up by police, with a TV47 reporter reportedly attacked while live on air.
Also Read: NCIC Proposes National Repentance & Redemption Day Amid Gachagua’s Impeachment
The reporter could be heard explaining to the officers that they were journalists in their line of work before the live coverage was cut short.
“Police attack TV47‘s reporter Moige William at Mathira who is covering the residents’ reaction following DP Rigathi Gachagua’s impeachment by the National Assembly,” said TV47 in a statement.
Tony Kwalanda, a journalist at the station also reacted, “What is happening in Karatina?? Our TV crew seems to have been ambushed by the police. It is so unfortunate. I hope my colleagues Moige and Christine are ok.”
The protests at Mathira broke out after 281 MPs voted in favor of the motion seeking to send DP Gachagua home.
Gachagua during the debate dismissed all the allegations levelled against him and maintained his innocence citing the motion as “a scheme to kick him out” and “baseless”.
The second in command addressed all the eleven counts, one by one, countering the motion tabled by Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse with evidentiary material including video clips.
Also Read: Gachagua Impeachment Live Updates: MPs Resume Debate
Further, the embattled DP justified his vast wealth, with majority of his assets linked to his late brother Nderitu Gachagua who served as Nyeri Governor.
DP Gachagua impeached
Majority of the lawmakers however voted against Gachagua, meeting the Constitutional threshold set which requires at least two-thirds of the members to vote in support of the Special Motion.
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula gave the way forward saying that the Senate Speaker will be notified about the resolution by the House within two days.
“According to the results of the division on the motion that I’ve just declared, a total of 281 being more than two-thirds of the members of the National Assembly have voted in support of the motion. Article 145 (2a) of the Constitution provides that if a motion under clause 1 is supported by at least two-thirds of the members of the National Assembly, the Speaker shall inform the Speaker of the Senate of the resolution within two days,” said Wetang’ula.
“In this regard, I’ll proceed to discharge the similar duty placed on me by article 145 (2b) of the Constitution under which to notify the Speaker of the Senate of the resolution of the National Assembly.”
He further directed the Clerk to prepare the necessary documentation to accompany the resolution.
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