NAIROBI, Kenya – Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has arrived at the Senate ahead of the highly anticipated impeachment trial, set to unfold today.
The session will begin with the National Assembly’s opening remarks, followed by Gachagua’s response to the charges leveled against him.
This development comes after the High Court declined to halt the impeachment proceedings, delivering a significant legal blow to Gachagua’s efforts to avoid the trial.
A three-judge bench, led by Justice Erick Ogola and comprising Justices Antony Mrima and Frida Mugambi, dismissed five petitions that sought to block the Senate from proceeding with the trial.
The petitions, filed by Gachagua’s legal team, were ruled premature and anticipatory by the court.
In its decision, the bench emphasized the importance of maintaining the constitutional principle of separation of powers, stressing that intervening in the Senate’s proceedings at this stage would be inappropriate.
“This is not a case where intervention is automatic. The issues raised will require detailed examination, and the constitutional principle of separation of powers is best respected by allowing the Senate to carry out its mandate,” the court stated.
However, the ruling left an opening for Gachagua to challenge the outcome after the Senate trial concludes, should he choose to seek further legal recourse.
Earlier, a separate attempt by Gachagua’s legal team, led by Senior Counsel Paul Muite and lawyer Tom Macharia, to secure a conservatory order from Justice Chacha Mwita was also denied.
They had argued that the impeachment was politically motivated and violated the Constitution due to inadequate public participation in the process.
Justice Mwita, however, declined to grant the order, allowing the Senate trial to move forward.
The session will begin with the National Assembly’s opening remarks, followed by Gachagua’s response to the charges leveled against him.
This development comes after the High Court declined to halt the impeachment proceedings, delivering a significant legal blow to Gachagua’s efforts to avoid the trial.
A three-judge bench, led by Justice Erick Ogola and comprising Justices Antony Mrima and Frida Mugambi, dismissed five petitions that sought to block the Senate from proceeding with the trial.
The petitions, filed by Gachagua’s legal team, were ruled premature and anticipatory by the court.
In its decision, the bench emphasized the importance of maintaining the constitutional principle of separation of powers, stressing that intervening in the Senate’s proceedings at this stage would be inappropriate.
“This is not a case where intervention is automatic. The issues raised will require detailed examination, and the constitutional principle of separation of powers is best respected by allowing the Senate to carry out its mandate,” the court stated.
However, the ruling left an opening for Gachagua to challenge the outcome after the Senate trial concludes, should he choose to seek further legal recourse.
Earlier, a separate attempt by Gachagua’s legal team, led by Senior Counsel Paul Muite and lawyer Tom Macharia, to secure a conservatory order from Justice Chacha Mwita was also denied.
They had argued that the impeachment was politically motivated and violated the Constitution due to inadequate public participation in the process.
Justice Mwita, however, declined to grant the order, allowing the Senate trial to move forward.
