Rigathi Gachagua trial: Kenya’s deputy president sacked by the Senate while in hospital

The senators’ refusal to adjourn the hearing until Saturday – as long as the law would allow – shows how determined they are to get rid of Gachagua months after he fell out with President William Ruto.

Last week, an overwhelming majority of members of the National Assembly – the lower house of parliament – voted to impeach him, setting the stage for his two-day trial in the Senate.

Gachagua, a wealthy businessman from the vote-rich central region of Mount Kenya, who was present in the house in the morning, described the impeachment as a “political lynching”.

On Thursday night, the necessary two-thirds of the 67 senators supported the five charges, including inciting ethnic discord and violating his oath of office – enough to remove him from office.

He was acquitted of six charges, including corruption and money laundering.

This came just two years after Ruta and Gachagua were elected on a joint ticket.

The vote puts an end to months of infighting at the highest levels of government and cements Ruto’s hold on power.

The dispute came to a head in June when Gachagua, acting as a presidential undercut, accused the head of the intelligence agency of failing to properly inform Ruto and the government of the scale of mass protests against an unpopular tax hike.

In a major blow to his credibility, Ruto has just been forced to withdraw taxes. He dismissed his cabinet and introduced opposition representatives into the government.

Ruto does not comment on the impeachment of his deputy.

At the beginning of the trial, one of Gachagua’s lawyers, Elisha Ongoya, said all allegations were “either false, ridiculous or embarrassing”.

Before the vote, Gachagua said he would challenge the decision if it was passed.

The Reuters news agency quoted a doctor as saying that the 59-year-old man had been hospitalized with heart problems but was in a stable condition and was being examined.

Kenyan media are already reporting on his possible replacements, with four people mentioned:

Additional reporting by the BBC’s Jewel Kiryunga in Nairobi.