Kenyan parliament begins vice-president Gachagua’s impeachment trial

The Kenyan parliament has begun a trial to remove Vice-President Rigathi Gachagua from office.

This comes hours after a court ruled that the proceedings against him are constitutional.

“At this stage, the process is a lawful, constitutional process, and the Senate will conduct a trial where all the issues being raised before the court will be raised and determined at the moment,” the judge said in court.

Gachagua is facing allegations of supporting the violent anti-government protests that rocked the East African nation in June.

Gachagua is also accused of involvement in corruption, practising ethnically divisive politics, and other activities inconsistent with his office.

Lawmakers said the vice-president amassed assets worth 5.2 billion shillings ($40 million) since the last election, with an annual salary of $93,000.

Among the listed assets was Kenya’s renowned Treetops Hotel.

But Gachagua has insisted that his wealth is through legitimate business deals and an inheritance from his late brother.

Last week, a majority in the national assembly voted to approve his impeachment, setting the stage for the two-day trial in the senate.

As the senate opened proceedings on Wednesday, Gachagua denied the 11 charges read out by the clerk.

“Not guilty,” Gachagua said in response to each one.

At least two-thirds of the 67 senate members must approve the motion for Gachagua to be removed from office.

During Wednesday’s session, evidence by the national assembly against Gachagua, including any witnesses, were introduced and examined for three hours followed by another two hours of cross-examination.

On Thursday, Gachagua’s side will defend the vice-president with evidence and witnesses until late afternoon.

After the process is concluded in the evening, senators will debate the motion for about two hours and then take a vote – scheduled to happen on Thursday night.

If Gachagua’s impeachment stands, he would be barred from ever holding public office.

He would also become the first vice-president to exit office in this way since the possibility of impeachment was introduced in a 2010 revision of Kenya’s constitution.