The Office of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Wednesday dismissed reports that he was planning to hold a press conference later on Wednesday as his impeachment motion kicked off at the Senate.
According to Gachagua’s Deputy Presidential Communication Service (DPCS) Head of Communication Service Njeri Rugene, the purported press conference announcement was fake noting that the second in command will not be holding the conference.
This came hours after the fake memo made rounds on social media for the better part of Tuesday.
According to the poster, the creators had intimated that the embattled Deputy President would hold the conference at his official Karen Residence, inviting media personnel to ensure they arrived on time to cover the event.
The fake poster emerged amid mounting pressure on Gachagua to resign from office before the Senate concludes the hearing and determination of his impeachment charges that are currently underway at the chambers.
Gachagua is particularly at a crossroads since a decision by the Senate to impeach him will render him unfit to hold public office.
The above charge lies in line with the requirement of Chapter 6 of the Kenyan Constitution which provides that once a leader misses the key requirements of the Leadership and Integrity Act and is impeached from office, then such an individual cannot be appointed to or hold public office in Kenya.
Yesterday, lawyers and constitutional experts advised the second in command to consider resigning since the Senate might hold the decision of the National Assembly to kick him out of office.
Speaking on NTV, city lawyer Steve Ogola urged Gachagua to consider resignation in order to secure his eligibility for future public office.
''It should make strategic and practical sense for him to resign tonight (Tuesday) before the Senate convenes to consider his impeachment motion. Looking at his age, politically he has about 60 years and he has a chance to remain active in politics if he resigns, if he proceeds with the impeachment and he is in fact impeached, then his fate is permanently sealed. If he resigns he regains some political mileage,’’ Ogola observed.
Gachagua is facing 11 grounds of impeachment that were recommended against him after Kibwezi West Member of Parliament Mwengi Mutuse tabled the same before the National Assembly.
The Senate is expected to vote on each of the accounts the National Assembly found Gachagua guilty of and will also give him a chance to challenge the allegations.
