Nairobi – Senate Speaker Amason Kingi has deferred Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s trial after the latter failed to show up for the afternoon session on Thursday, October 17.
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This was after the deputy president’s legal team informed the House that he had been taken ill and, therefore, would not make it to the floor at the scheduled time.
“The sad reality is that the Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya has been taken sick. Very sick. As I address this honourable House, he is in hospital. That is the sad reality,” said Paul Muite, Gachagua’s lead counsel.
Kingi, after meeting the two parties, acceded to Muite’s prayer that the trial be suspended until 5:00pm after doctors’ assessment and report.
The speaker, however, suggested that a critical verdict would be pronounced should Gachagua fail to show up within the new timeline.
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“Having considered the two sides, my directions are as follows; that we will suspend this sitting and resume at exactly 5pm. We expect the deputy president to take the witnesses stand at that time. This is a time-bound process unfortunately. It is so ordered,” said Kingi.
However, giving his perspective, litigation counsel Steve Ogolla said the impeachment could not continue in Gachagua’s absence, nor the outcome considered, given that the prevailing issue in the midst is a medical emergency.
“Unfortunately, the Senate must adjourn, regardless of what the Standing Orders provide. Impeachment in absentia is a nullity, especially in the case of medical emergency,” said Ogolla.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
