Passionate: Vice President Ligati Gachagua. (Photo credit: Sebastian Barros/NurPhoto, Getty Images)
Kenya's parliament was scheduled to vote on Tuesday on the impeachment of Vice President Ligachi Gachagua in a political drama that exposed rifts within the ruling party.
Lawmakers have accused presidential aide William Ruto, 59, of numerous charges including corruption, undermining the government and engaging in ethically divisive politics.
At a press conference on Monday, Gachagua dismissed the accusations as “outrageous” and “pure propaganda” and said it was a plot to remove him from public office.
Gachagua is a businessman from the Kikuyu tribe, Kenya's largest tribe. He overcame previous corruption scandals and became Ruto's deputy presidential candidate in the closely contested August 2022 election.
But in recent weeks, he has complained of being marginalized by his bosses and has been accused of supporting youth-led anti-government protests that erupted in June.
Political tensions have been high since sometimes deadly demonstrations broke out over unpopular tax hikes, exposing the rift between Mr Gachagua and Mr Ruto.
Last month, several MPs allied with Gachagua were summoned by police for allegedly funding protests.
Prosecutors have not filed formal charges, and no judicial investigation has been opened against Gachagua.
But lawmakers cited 11 grounds for impeachment, including accusations that he has amassed assets worth 5.2 billion shillings ($40 million) since his last election, despite earning just $93,000 a year.
Among his assets was the famous Treetops Hotel in Kenya, where Britain's then-Princess Elizabeth stayed when she became Queen.
Gachagua said all of his wealth came from legitimate business deals and an inheritance from his brother.
He warned that firing him would fuel discontent among his supporters.
Kenyan parliamentarians began impeachment proceedings on October 1, with 291 MPs supporting the motion, far exceeding the minimum number of 117.
The motion needs support from two-thirds of the House of Commons and Parliament to pass on Tuesday. It will then be moved to the House of Lords, the House of Lords.
If impeached, Gachagua would be the first vice president to be removed in this way since the possibility was introduced in Kenya's 2010 revised constitution. —AFP