The impeachment motion against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua shall be moved by Kibwezi West Member of Parliament (MP) Mutuse Mwengi.
Among the ten grounds for impeachment in the motion seen by The Kenya Times is that DP Gachagua has inexplicably amassed a humongous property portfolio estimated at Ksh5.2 billion for the past 2 years.
“Notice of special motion by Hon. Mutuse Eckomas Mwengi, Member of Parliament, Kibwezi West Constituency, for the removal from office, by impeachment, of his excellency Rigathi Gachagua, the deputy president of the republic of Kenya,” read part of the motion.
“Pursuant to the provisions of Article 150 (1) (b) and (2) and Article 145 of the Constitution and Standing Orders 64 and 65 of the Standing Orders of the National Assembly of the Republic of Kenya, This House Resolves to Remove from Office, by Impeachment, His EXCELLENCY RIGATHI GACHAGUA, EGH the Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya on THE FOLLOWING GROUNDS.”
The impeachment grounds include Gross violation of the Constitution or any other law pursuant to article 150 (1) (b) (1) of the constitution and Gross Misconduct (Bullying).
Gachagua is on diverse dates throughout the last two years since assuming the DP’s office accused of persistently making utterances threatening to discriminate, exclude and unlawfully deny sections of the people of Kenya and regions of the country equal opportunities for public service appointments and allocation of public resources.
Besides, the utterances made by Gachagua have been described as highly inflammatory and inciteful and significantly undermine national unity and the peaceful co-existence of Kenya’s diverse communities.
Another impeachment ground includes “serious reasons to believe that DP Rigathi Gachagua has committed crimes under sections 45 (1), 46, 47 (a) (3), and 48 (1) of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act and sections 2, 3, 4, and 7 of Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act.
The motion argues that for the past two years, DP Gachagua has inexplicably amassed a humongous property portfolio estimated at Ksh5.2 billion, primarily from suspected proceeds of corruption and money laundering.
“The value of the property and wealth that His Excellency Rigathi Gachagua has acquired over the last two years is incompatible with his known legitimate income (i.e., Ksh12 Million per annum or thereabouts),” the motion adds.
Gachagua is accused of having acquired the abovementioned property and wealth using his spouse, two sons (Kevin Rigathi Gachagua (‘Rigathi Gachagua’) and Keith Ikinu Rigathi (‘Keith Ikinu’) and other close family members and associates, as proxies.
Further, the mover argues that Gachagua and his proxies (especially the two sons) have used the following companies to massively launder money, conceal proceeds of crime, corruption, and benefit from influence peddling.
Ground six of the impeachment motion on the other hand comprises of “Serious reasons to believe that the DP has committed crimes under sections 13 (1) (a) and 62 of the National Cohesion and Integration Act.”
