Members of National Assembly vote 281 in favor, 44 against
Kenya's Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua was impeached following a decisive vote in the National Assembly on Tuesday.A total of 281 MPs voted in favor of the motion, surpassing the two-thirds threshold required to impeach him, with 44 voting against and one abstaining.The impeachment motion, spearheaded by Kibwezi West MP Mutuse Mwengi, accused Gachagua of gross violations of the Constitution, corruption, and promoting ethnic division.Key charges included unlawfully acquiring assets through questionable means, undermining the president and the Cabinet by making unilateral public statements, and violating Kenya's anti-corruption and money-laundering laws.
National Assembly speaker Moses Wetang'ula said the motion will now proceed to the Senate for further consideration.Senate speaker Amason Kingi is expected to convene a session within seven days, where the upper house will review the charges and either uphold or veto the National Assembly's decision.
Gachagua, who has publicly accused President William Ruto of betrayal, becomes the first deputy president to face impeachment in Kenya's political history.
