A Kenyan high court has issued a temporary suspension of the Senate's decision to impeach Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, following a petition that raised "monumental constitutional issues." This ruling comes in the wake of a historic impeachment vote by the Senate, which occurred while Gachagua was hospitalized.
On Friday, Kenya's parliament unanimously supported President William Ruto's nomination of Kithure Kindiki, a 52-year-old academic and political heavyweight, to replace Gachagua. The National Assembly speaker, Moses Wetangula, announced the nomination, and parliamentarians voted 236 in favor, with no abstentions or opposing votes. "The vote is overwhelmingly ‘yes’ and so the nomination is hereby declared passed by the house," Wetangula confirmed.
In response to the impeachment process initiated on Thursday, Gachagua approached the court to halt its implementation. Presiding Judge Chacha Mwita ruled to temporarily pause the impeachment proceedings, emphasizing the case's constitutional significance. "I am satisfied that the petition raises fundamental constitutional issues concerning the rule of law and human rights," the judge stated.
Additionally, the court suspended the appointment of the new deputy president, which had already begun with Ruto's nomination of Kindiki. The case is scheduled for review on October 24, when a bench appointed by the Chief Justice will address the matter. This legal development has added a layer of complexity to the political landscape in Kenya, as the country navigates the implications of the impeachment and subsequent nominations.