The National Assembly will on Friday begin collecting views from members of the public across all 47 counties on the impeachment motion against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
The exercise follows a directive issued by the Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula directing the House to commence the process starting Friday, October 4, 2024.
The process is set to give Kenyans an opportunity to make submissions on the special motion sponsored by Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse at designated centers within the constituency.
Wetang’ula cited Article 182 of the Constitution which mandates Parliamentary facilitation of citizen engagement in such processes.
“It would be absurd for any person to imagine that a motion such as this one may be concluded without public participation. Article 182 of the Constitution categorically enjoins Parliament to facilitate public participation and involvement in the legislative and other business of Parliament and its committees,” Wetang’ula said.
“The public participation process additionally contemplates collection of views from the constituency centres. The clerks will help in the compilation at the designated centers across all the constituencies,” he added.
Speaker Wetangula gave the additional directions following a Kamkunji held to discuss the matter following the tabling of the motion on Tuesday.
The National Assembly adjourned its scheduled morning sitting from 12 pm to 2 pm to discuss the procedure on the public opinions on the impeachment motion to seal loopholes that might thwart the motion at the courts.
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To facilitate public participation, the House will adjourn on Thursday afternoon to allow the lawmakers to visit their constituents to participate in the exercise.
“The public participation will be conducted countrywide and the House will retreat tomorrow where the legal counsels will explain the modalities,” Speaker Wetangula said.
Gachagua stands accused of 11 violations, including breaches of the constitution, corruption, and incitement.
MP Mutuse tabled a 100-page document, indicating that he had satisfactory evidence to support his grounds and prove that Gachagua is not suitable to remain in office.
While tabling the motion, which was supported by 291 lawmakers, MP Mutuse noted that the DP’s conduct in the past two years violated the oath he took to assume office.
EDITOR’S NOTE: President William Ruto has unleashed his machinery to decapitate his deputy politically, setting in motion an unprecedented impeachment process. Don’t miss all the drama in the October 2024 issue of Nairobi Law Magazine.
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