There was a moment of uncertainty in the Senate on Thursday, October 17, evening after Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua failed to take the stand on time.
According to directions by Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, the Deputy President was expected to take the stand at exactly 2:30 PM.
However, by 3 PM, Gachagua was yet to take the stand forcing his team, led by Senior Counsel Paul Muite to leave the chamber in search of the DP.
"We are anxiously waiting for the deputy president, my colleagues can stand in for me when I make inquiries and find out where he is held up," Muite said.
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In a fresh twist, Moments after walking out of the chamber, the Senior Counsel came back in the House and told Senators that the DP was very sick and had been taken to the hospital.
"The deputy president has been coming here absolutely punctually every day, the reality is that the deputy president of the Republic of Kenya has been taken sick; very sick. And as I am addressing these honorable Senators, he is in hospital," he said.
Following this development, Kingi directed that the sitting be suspended until 5 PM when the deputy president is expected to take the stand.
"Having considered the two sides, we will suspend this sitting and resume at exactly 5 PM. We expect the deputy president then to take the stand. This is a time-bound process, unfortunately," he stated.
Gachagua is set to take the witness stand today in the Senate as part of his impeachment trial, which focuses on allegations of corruption and abuse of office.
The Senate requires at least 45 votes for impeachment to succeed, and proceedings are expected to be contentious.
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