At least 13 Senators must vote against all eleven charges in the impeachment tabled against Deputy President (DP) Rigathi Gachagua for him to survive. If not, Gachagua will be impeached and forced out of office as outlined in the Constitution.
But what if he survives? How will he relate to President William Ruto and other government officials?
Constitutional lawyer Prof. PLO Lumumba and political commentator Barack Muluka weighed in, hinting at possible outcomes if Gachagua retains his office.
Speaking on Citizen TV, Lumumba said Gachagua’s potential ouster is part of a power consolidation and regrouping of the ODM Pentagon group.
He explained that President Ruto, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, and Prime CS Musalia Mudavadi have worked together and are now aligned.
For this reason, Lumumba said the DP now appears as an outsider, prompting efforts to push him out of the government.
Muluka said Gachagua doesn’t need to be in a government where he won’t be useful. He explained that the DP’s roles are assigned by the President, who clearly wants him out.
“If the impeachment fails, and your boss doesn’t want you to deputize him, and you are in a space where he allocates your functions, you probably don’t need to stay there,” he said.
Lumumba expressed a similar view, stating that if Gachagua survives impeachment, he will remain in office but with minimal involvement in government activities.
“If it fails, he will stay in office but with no roles assigned to him,” Lumumba said.
DP Deserves Justice
Muluka noted that Gachagua has partly convinced the public, based on the evidence he presented to the National Assembly and in his press conference.
He added that Gachagua deserves to be heard, and that justice should be done despite his shortcomings as a leader.
“As the average person in the street, I have bought 75 to 80 percent of what the DP has stated to Kenyans over the past two days. I know he has his own fundamental weaknesses, but justice is justice. He has made his case, we have heard it, and I believe him. However, I am sparing 20 to 25 percent because of the undisclosed agreements between him and his boss,” Muluka said.
Also Read: What Next in Senate after MPs Pass Impeachment Motion against Gachagua?
Why Gachagua Want to Retain His Position
Lumumba suggested that Gachagua might be fighting to stay in office to protect himself from future challenges if he is ousted.
“There is fear that once he leaves office, he will be open to punishment by different institutions,” Lumumba said.
He also said Gachagua fears political irrelevance and oblivion if impeached. Staying in office would maintain his political relevance and protect him from possible prosecutions.
“If it fails, he will continue to attend rallies and hold some power, which will keep him in the public eye and shield him from prosecution,” Lumumba said.
Also Read: Gachagua Replacement: 5 Top Candidates Likely to be Kenya’s Next Deputy President
Senate Schedule
The Senate will investigate the charges against DP Gachagua on October 16 and 17.
Senators will prosecute the impeachment in a plenary session after Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna declined to second the motion to form a committee to investigate the charges.
The National Assembly impeached the DP after 281 Members of Parliament (MPs) voted in support of his impeachment.
Speaker Amason Kingi has barred senators from traveling and commenting on the motion in public until October 19.
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