The process has gained support from 291 members of parliament (MPs), including those from the ODM party.
However, despite the involvement of ODM MPs, the party’s deputy leader and Kisii Governor, Simba Arati, has come forward to clarify that this impeachment is not being pushed by ODM.
Instead, he stated that the opposition party is only following the decisions made by the ruling party.
Arati emphasized that ODM is not targeting Gachagua directly and would not want to see him removed unless it is the will of parliament and the government.
He mentioned that as a party, they are not actively seeking Gachagua’s removal but will respect the decision if parliament and the ruling party want it. Arati went on to explain that ODM has supported the stability of President William Ruto’s government, even though they remain in opposition.
"As a party, we are not saying Gachagua should go. But because parliament has decided, then let him go. As ODM, we are not after him," Arati said, clarifying their position. He added, "We are also wishing the Kenya Kwanza government to stand as we have also helped President William Ruto stabilize it. Therefore, no one should say ODM is in the government."
The involvement of ODM MPs in signing the impeachment motion is significant. However, the clarification by Arati shows that the impeachment is not necessarily a coordinated effort by the opposition to remove Gachagua but rather a response to actions being taken within the ruling party and parliament itself.
Lawmakers elected on ODM tickets were part of the 291 MPs who signed to support Gachagua's impeachment, aligning with the decision of other members of the assembly.
The next steps of the impeachment process will involve public participation, where members of the public are given a chance to express their views on whether or not they support the deputy president’s removal. This stage is crucial in gathering opinions from ordinary citizens before moving forward.
The deputy president is expected to defend himself in a special plenary session of the National Assembly, scheduled for Tuesday, October 8. During this session, he will address the charges being brought against him.
These charges include accusations of abusing his office, violating the constitution and laws, being involved in corruption, and making inflammatory remarks that could incite public unrest.
One of the most notable developments in the case is the tension between Gachagua and President William Ruto.
Recently, Gachagua openly accused Ruto of being behind the push for his impeachment, claiming that the president was financially supporting the MPs in their effort to remove him from office.
This accusation has deepened the divide between the deputy president and the head of state, adding another layer of complexity to the impeachment process.
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