Kenya's Supreme Court Suspends Impeachment of Vice President

Kenya’s Supreme Court on Thursday suspended the impeachment of Rigathi Gachagua as Vice President of the Republic and the subsequent appointment of Kithure Kindiki as his successor.

“The decision of the Senate (the upper house of parliament) to uphold the impeachment charge against the Vice President is hereby suspended,” said Justice Chacha Mwita, who referred the case to the Chief Justice and head of the Kenyan judiciary, Martha Koome.

To resolve the impasse, the Supreme Court will now appoint a panel headed by Martha Koome, which will attempt to resolve the constitutional issues raised by Gachagua’s lawyer, Paul Muite, after parliament gave the green light to the impeachment on Thursday, Mwita said.

Kithure Kindiki was appointed by President William Ruto this morning to the post of Gachagua after parliament voted by a majority vote on his nomination, with the motion receiving the favourable vote of 236 of the 349 members of the legislative body.

Gachagua became the first deputy president to be impeached in the history of the African country.

The original grounds for the impeachment included 11 crimes of money laundering and using his position to grant government licenses to his companies.

Senators voted in favour of maintaining five of the charges, including incitement to ethnic divisions and violation of his oath of office.

The deputy president contested the entire process that led to his impeachment, arguing that the charges against him are baseless and that the evidence presented to parliament is insufficient.

Gachagua, 59, who was hospitalized at the time of the vote, became the first vice-president to be removed from office under an impeachment process, as provided for in the 2010 Constitution.

Ruto had chosen Gachagua as his running mate for the 2022 presidential election, despite a sulphurous reputation, marked by several corruption allegations.

With a solid network of influence, particularly in the strategic Mount Kenya region, this former businessman from the Kikuyu ethnic group - the majority in the country - played a crucial role in Ruto's victory over his rival Raila Odinga (50.49% to 48.85%).

However, relations between the two men at the head of state deteriorated, particularly after an anti-government movement that shook the country in June and July.