The Senate on Thursday, October 17 voted to proceed with the impeachment trial of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, despite his absence.
The senators objected to a procedural motion that had sought to adjourn the sittings to Saturday, October 19, 2024.
“As this process is time bound by the constitution, and noting that the period expires on Saturday, the only window open will be to gazette Saturday as the final day for hearing of this matter,” Kingi had argued before letting Senators take a vote. “Such a request is made to the Senate, not the speaker. I direct the clerk to circulate a motion of adjournment.”
Gachagua’s lead counsel Paul Muite had pleaded with the House to give the embattled second in command a fair hearing, by postponing the sitting, until Tuesday, October 22.
Muite told the Senate that Gachagua was unable to present himself before the plenary after suddenly falling ill.
