High Stakes Showdown: How Parliament Has Prepared for Gachagua’s Impeachment
Police have ramped up security around Parliament as Kenya’s National Assembly prepares for a pivotal moment: the impeachment debate against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. With the intensity of the proceedings building, extensive measures have been put in place both inside and outside the Parliament buildings.
Parliament Road has been cordoned off by officers, echoing last week’s heightened security when the motion was initially introduced.
As tension mounts in the capital, all attention is on this critical event. Police patrols have been intensified around the National Assembly, aiming to prevent any disturbances.
Within the Parliament Buildings, special arrangements have been made for Gachagua. He has been assigned two rooms—one fortified for secure communication and the other for his legal team’s consultations. The Deputy President is anticipated to arrive early for the debate, which will kick off at 9 a.m.
NTV reports that one of the most notable breaks from protocol is Gachagua’s seating arrangement. Instead of his usual spot near the entrance, he will be seated close to the Speaker’s podium, positioning him to address the MPs directly.
This prominent location is the same one used by President William Ruto for the State of the Nation Address and where Treasury officials present the national budget.
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Four seats near Gachagua’s podium have been reserved for his legal team, with additional seating for his lawyers near the section typically reserved for ambassadors.
Special arrangements have been made for any members of Gachagua’s family who may attend, with designated seats in the Speaker’s Guests section. His staff from the Office of the Deputy President will also be seated nearby for additional support.
Though the session begins at 9 a.m., Gachagua is expected to take the floor between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., where his defense will be closely scrutinized by the 341 MPs whose votes will determine his political future.
While 291 MPs endorsed the motion’s advancement last week, rumors of shifting loyalties have introduced uncertainty to the outcome. For the impeachment to pass, a two-thirds majority, or 233 MPs, is required.
Gachagua has remained defiant, dismissing the charges as a politically motivated scheme. “These are fabricated claims, part of a broader plan to force me out. The truth will emerge,” he asserted ahead of the motion. Unfazed, he readies himself to confront Parliament and present his defense to the nation.
High Stakes Showdown: How Parliament Has Prepared for Gachagua’s Impeachment
