Anglican Church of Kenya Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit has called on the Senate to remain neutral and exercise impartiality as they begin hearings on the impeachment case against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
Gachagua is set to appear before the Senate on Wednesday for the trial, following the National Assembly’s overwhelming vote, where 282 MPs supported the motion to impeach him.
The Senate will hear evidence from both the Deputy President and the sponsor of the motion on Wednesday and Thursday.
Speaking during the retirement service of the First Bishop of the Diocese of Garissa, Rt Rev David Mutisya, Ole Sapit urged senators to carefully analyze the case.
“As the upper house, the Senate has been entrusted with the responsibility of reviewing the actions of the National Assembly. The ball is now in their court, and this is a critical example of checks and balances. I hope and pray that they will handle the process with sobriety,” he said.
He also appealed to Kenyans to remain united and peaceful amid the ongoing impeachment proceedings, cautioning against blindly following politicians.
“This is the first time our country is witnessing an impeachment motion against a sitting Deputy President, and it has sparked mixed reactions among Kenyans. Politicians often change their stances, so we should not allow their statements to divide us,” he added.
When asked whether religious leaders had tried to mediate between the political leaders, Ole Sapit acknowledged that their efforts had been unsuccessful. He noted that the matter was now beyond them, as it had moved to the Senate and the courts.
