Kenyan senators have voted to remove Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua from office, despite his absence from the impeachment trial, following claims of illness.
The 59-year-old becomes the first deputy president to be impeached in Kenya’s history.
Gachagua had been scheduled to defend himself in the Senate after pleading not guilty to 11 charges the day before.
His lawyer, however, informed the Senate that Gachagua was suffering from chest pains and was receiving treatment at The Karen Hospital. Despite the request for a delay, the senators decided to proceed with the trial. This led the defence team to leave the chamber.
Last week, a majority of MPs in the National Assembly had voted for his impeachment, paving the way for the Senate trial.
In the Thursday evening vote, the Senate upheld five of the 11 charges, including inciting ethnic divisions and violating his oath of office, leading to his removal from office. He was, however, cleared of charges related to corruption and money laundering.
Gachagua, who had been in the Senate earlier in the day, described the impeachment process as a “political lynching.” He vowed to challenge the decision.
The impeachment comes just two years after Gachagua and President William Ruto were elected together.
The removal marks the end of months of internal conflict within the government, which intensified when Gachagua publicly criticized the head of the intelligence agency and undermined the president following mass protests against tax hikes.
Meanwhile, a doctor told Reuters that the 59-year-old Gachagua was in stable condition but undergoing tests for heart-related issues.
President Ruto has not commented on the impeachment, but Kenyan media has already begun speculating about possible replacements for Gachagua, with four potential candidates being mentioned.
