Kenyan Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua Impeached in Historic Vote

Kenya’s former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in Nairobi, Kenya. (Photo: AP Newsroom/ Andrew Kasuku)

On Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, the move to impeach Kenyan deputy president Rigathi Gachugua passed in the nation’s Senate, making Gachagua the first Kenyan president/deputy president impeached since the adoption of the new constitution in 2010. Gachaguawas was found guilty of five of the 11 allegations, which included exploiting ethnic division for political gain and threatening judges. 

The trial began with the lower house and reached the Senate on Wednesday, Oct. 16. The Senate read out each charge, and Gachagua pleaded “not guilty” to each. The following day, Gachugua did not attend the planned meeting with the Senate. His lawyers explained he was sick in the hospital. 

The trial continued without Gachagua, which caused his defense lawyers to leave the Senate room. Legally, the case could’ve been delayed, but due to the party’s refusal and collective motivations, Gachagua was impeached the same day. 

On Oct. 8, at the national assembly, Gachagua denied all charges, saying they were “politically motivated and lacked merit.” Gachagua is not alone in his feelings. Many Kenyans still support him and argue that his former running mate, President William Ruto, is strategically working against him for political gain and as a distraction from the country’s more pressing issues.  Many analysts believe that impeachment would not have occurred if Ruto’s party did not hold the majority in the lower house and the Senate.

Murithi Mutiga, Africa program director at the International Crisis Group, stated in an interview with the New York Times that the impeachment would “sow considerable uncertainty, as Gachugua’s substantial constituency views his ouster as a betrayal and will seek to ensure Ruto pays a political price.” Many argue that both leader's joint elections should result in joint impeachment.

Kenya’s National Assembly, the legislative lower house, sits to vote on the impeachment of Deputy President Gachagua before the sitting of the Senate, the upper house. (Photo: Monicah Mwangi/Reuters)

President Ruto and former Deputy President Gachagua ran together in 2022. The pair had teamed up in a strategic move aligned with past Kenyan political strategies to manipulate ethnic ties to political advantages. 

Tensions have risen between the two leaders during their two years of leadership. Gachagua felt that Ruto left him out of important meetings and decisions. In June and July, President Ruto faced extreme backlash for proposing a bill that increased taxes for Kenyans. This resulted in widespread protests, forcing the President to withdraw the law. Analysts claim that Gachagua’s support of the protests against the President led to increased tensions. 

Many other government members have called Gachagua out on corruption, claiming he has undermined political systems and increased bipartisan tension. Despite theories that Ruto planned the impeachment for political gain, many political analysts argue that Gachagua’s impeachment would weaken Ruto. Following Gachagua’s impeachment, President Ruto quickly nominated a new Deputy on Friday, Oct. 18th: Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki. Kindiki is most known for his passionate support of officers to uphold the law and control protests during protests that killed over 40 and injured 300. Many activists criticized Kindiki’s public support. 

The nomination approval for the new deputy president is on hold until the court hears a new case challenging Gachagua’s impeachment next week. This case could take months or years to pass.