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Why is Kenya’s deputy president being impeached?

Rigathi Gachagua is accused of corruption, undermining the president and promoting ethnic divisions

β€œI have no intention of resigning from this job. I’ll fight till the end. I have no doubt that I will get justice.”

This week in a historic vote the National Assembly voted to impeach Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

281 MPs voted in favour and 44 against, making him the first Kenyan deputy president go through an impeachment process.

Gachagua, who has served alongside President William Ruto since 2022, was expected to remain in his job until the next election in August 2027. However, his political career may be cut short.

He’s been accused of corruption, undermining the president, and promoting ethnic division. He denies all the charges and described them as β€œoutrageous” and β€œpropaganda”’.

Africa Daily’s Mpho Lakaje spoke with ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ reporter Jewel Kiriungi in Nairobi to discuss what this impeachment could mean for Kenyan politics.

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