‘He’s very sick’ — lawyer speaks on Kenyan vice-president’s absence at impeachment trial

Rigathi Gachagua, Kenya’s deputy president, was absent during his impeachment hearing on Thursday.

Paul Muite, Gachagua’s lawyer, told the senate that the deputy president was “very sick” and could not attend the proceedings.

“The sad reality is that the deputy president of the republic of Kenya has been taken sick, very sick. And as I address, Mr Speaker, this honourable house (of) Senators, he is in hospital,” Muite said.

Amason Kingi, the senate speaker, paused the hearing and gave Gachagua until 5:00 pm local time to show up.

“This is a time-bound process, unfortunately,” Kingi said, adding that the impeachment trial cannot be legally extended beyond Friday.

Gachagua is facing 11 charges, including corruption, inciting ethnic divisions, and undermining government.

The deputy president has described the trial, which began on Wednesday, as a “political witch hunt”.

President William Ruto, who has had disagreements with Gachagua in recent months, is yet to publicly speak on the situation.

Political experts warn that if Gachagua is removed from office, it could lead to public outrage and calls for similar action against Ruto — a reawakening of the demands made by citizens during the deadly anti-tax protests that rocked Kenya in June and July.

Two-thirds of the senate is required to vote in favour of the impeachment for it to become valid.

If this happens, Gachagua will become the first Kenyan deputy president to be removed from office under the 2010 constitution.