The High Court gave the green light to the process after lawmakers voted last week to impeach Ligasi Gachagua on charges of abuse of power.
Kenya’s Senate has begun impeachment hearings against Vice President Ligati Gachagua, hours after the court ruled that the case against him was constitutional.
Last week, the House of Representatives voted to impeach Gachagua on 11 charges, including corruption, undermining the government and inciting ethnic hatred.
The 59-year-old denies all charges, insisting that the impeachment campaign, led by allies of President William Ruto and supported by some opposition politicians, is based on lies. He called the motion a political lynching, according to court documents seen by Reuters.
Mr. Gachagua had started an appeal in the High Court, but Judge Eric Ogola ruled on Wednesday that the process could proceed, paving the way for the Senate to begin hearings and vote on Mr. Gachagua’s removal from office. was held.
“At this stage, this process is a legal and constitutional process, the Senate will conduct the trial, and all issues before the court will be raised and decided at that time,” the judge wrote in court. said.
fall out
As the Senate began its proceedings, Gachagua denied the 11 charges read out by Senate Clerk Jeremiah Nyegenye.
“I’m not guilty,” Gachagua replied to each.
Lawmakers calling for Gachagua’s removal from office are expected to present their case to senators in parliament on Wednesday.
Gachagua is expected to defend himself before Thursday’s vote. A two-thirds majority is required to dismiss him.
If removed, Gachagua would be the first vice president to step down in this way since the 2010 amendment to Kenya’s constitution introduced the possibility of impeachment.
Gachagua, a powerful businessman from the Kikuyu tribe, Kenya’s largest tribe, has overcome previous corruption scandals to become Ruto’s deputy leader in a close election in August 2022.
He helped Mr Ruto win important votes from populous central Kenya, but the two have since fallen out and their political alliances have changed.
Gachagua has complained of being sidelined by the president and has been accused of supporting youth-led anti-government protests that erupted in June and exposed divisions within the upper echelons of power.
After anti-tax demonstrations that left more than 50 people dead, Ruto sacked most of his cabinet, appointed opposition politicians and called a unity government.
Ruto has not publicly commented on the impeachment, but Gachagua himself acknowledged that the process cannot proceed without the president’s approval.
