Kenya’s Senate is set to vote on the potential removal of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua from office following the second day of his impeachment trial.
On Thursday, Gachagua will defend himself before the lawmakers in the upper house of parliament, where a two-thirds majority is needed to oust him.
He faces 11 charges, including corruption, inciting ethnic divisions, and undermining the government.
During the trial’s opening on Wednesday, the deputy president pleaded not guilty to all charges as they were presented in the Senate.
Last week, an overwhelming majority of MPs in the National Assembly voted to approve his impeachment, paving the way for the Senate trial.
Mwengi Mutuse, the lawmaker who introduced the motion, testified in the Senate on Wednesday, accusing Gachagua of violating the constitution and detailing the grounds for his motion.
Mutuse characterized the accusations as “extraordinary” misconduct justifying impeachment, citing Gachagua’s remarks that likened the government to a shareholding company, implying that only those who voted for it would benefit from development and services.
He also alleged that Gachagua had amassed significant wealth through corrupt practices, among other charges.
The lawmaker was then put to task during cross-examination and at some point appeared to have a hard time defending his evidence.
A clip of President William Ruto speaking at a rally was shown in the Senate, where he referred to residents of Murang’a, central Kenya, as “major shareholders” of the government.
In response, Gachagua’s lawyers questioned how the deputy president could be criticized for “assisting” the president.
Mutuse, the lawmaker who introduced the impeachment motion, was also pressed to justify the valuation of the wealth Gachagua allegedly acquired.
The deputy president is accused of obtaining assets worth 5.2 billion Kenyan shillings ($40 million; £31 million) within two years of taking office, allegedly through corrupt means. Gachagua, however, claims that many of these properties were inherited from his late brother’s estate.
During the trial, one of Gachagua’s lawyers, Elisha Ongoya, dismissed the allegations as “either false, ridiculous, or embarrassing.”
The trial continued late into the night, with one additional witness being called. Proceedings resumed Thursday morning, with Gachagua, the only witness from his side, defending himself for most of the day.
After the defense, senators will debate the motion for approximately two hours before casting their votes in the evening.
Gachagua, a wealthy businessman from the vote-rich central Mount Kenya region, quickly rose in political ranks, going from a first-time MP to becoming Kenya’s deputy president after Ruto selected him as his running mate in the August 2022 election.
His impeachment trial, sparked by a fallout with the president, has dominated public and media discussions in recent weeks. The rift between Gachagua and Ruto emerged in June, following deadly protests over unpopular tax hikes.
Many observers believe the impeachment will succeed if opposition members back the ruling coalition as they did in the National Assembly. Gachagua is expected to challenge the decision if it passes.
Kenyan media have already speculated on his possible replacements, mentioning two serving governors and two ministers as potential candidates.