Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has been urged to resign while he still can after the courts declined to issue conservatory orders on Tuesday, October 15.[…]CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE▶
Gachagua’s options slimmed further after High Court judge Chacha Mwita turned down the DP’s bid to temporarily stop the impeachment process against him.
Mwita, in his ruling, argued that despite the court being fully mandated to intervene in the event of an infringement, the Parliament also had the right to hear and determine the impeachment motion as a state organ. This latest twist leaves Gachagua at the mercy of the Senate.
“Having considered the application and argument by parties, the Constitution, and the precedent, the prayer for the grant of conservatory order is hereby declined,” ruled Justice Mwita.
Following the latest twist, outspoken lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi offered a piece of advise to the besieged Gachagua, urging him to step down from his position as DP before his date with the Senate.
“Hon. Rigathi Gachagua has a very short window to resign. If he wants to have a new lease of life in politics, he must resign before the impeachment motion kicks off in the Senate,” the lawyer stated moments after the High Court ruling.
The lawyer observed that with the small window between Tuesday and the hearing with the Senate on Wednesday, Gachagua still has time to resign and save his political career.
He went on, “If he tries to resign midstream when the impeachment process is in motion and evidence is tabled and prosecuted by the representatives of the National Assembly, the Senate will not stop the process. It will continue and render judgment, his belated resignation, notwithstanding.”
Before the latest High Court ruling, Gachagua’s lawyer Paul Muite argued
in a separate case that the limited timeframe for public input rendered the impeachment exercise a ‘sham’. That plea, however, fell through as Justice Dorah Chepkwony refused to grant an order halting the proceedings.
The bigger picture
: As it stands, Gachagua’s fate lies with the Senate, with the trial set to last at least two days from Wednesday. The trial might extend, depending on whether more time is needed to review the evidence and cross-examine witnesses.
All factors considered, the odds are heavily stacked against Gachagua after the latest High Court ruling, as he could become the first Deputy President to be impeached if two-thirds of the 45 senators in the Senate vote to oust him.
If impeached, Gachagua could yet move to court for a 27th time to challenge the decision, although damage will already have been done…CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ARTICLES>>>
