By Our Correspondent, NAIROBI
Kenya
The Kenya’s Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has approved charges against five allies of Deputy President, Rigathi Gachagua (pictured).
A statement from the Office of
the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) indicated that they will be charged
with conspiracy to commit felony.
Further, the DPP directed that
an inquiry file to be opened on money laundering, financial crimes.
“Upon careful perusal, the DPP
has directed that there is sufficient evidence to charge the suspects with the
offense of conspiracy to commit felony contrary to section 393 of the Penal
code,” read the statement.
On Thursday, a letter from the
Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) recommended charges against
Members of Parliament Benjamin Gathiru (Embakasi Central), James Gakuya
(Embakasi North), George Theuri (Embakasi West), former Nyeri Town MP Wambugu Ngunjiri,
and Gachagua’s Private Secretary, Pius Munene after conducting thorough
investigations.
The charges they face include
soliciting or inciting others to commit an offense under Section 391 of the
Penal Code, conspiracy to commit a felony under Section 393, and money
laundering under Sections 3, 4, and 7 of the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money
Laundering Act.
“Efforts are being made to
obtain all financial data FRC, Safaricom, and banks where financial
transactions were carried out,” Detective Abdallah Komesha said in the letter
forwarded to the ODPP for action.
However, Gachagua denied
claims of aiding the violent June 25 Gen Z-led protests that led to an invasion
of Parliament.
In a statement he denounced
what he terms as ‘trumped up charges’ by DCI on his office staff and Members of
Parliament allied to him.
He cried foul over the use of
the criminal justice system to manage politics.
“Kenyans also know what the
real problems in Kenya are. They surely know Rigathi Gachagua is not among
them. Let our agencies remain professional, follow the rule of law and keep off
politics,” he stated.
He argued that the plan is to
try and associate them with violent demonstrations that took place in late
June, in a futile attempt to soil his name to create grounds for the mooted
impeachment proceedings against him.
“I am embarrassed that we are
back to where we were. Harassment of my Office staff and Members of Parliament
perceived to be close to me, has been going on for the last two months,”
Gachagua said.
The latest development comes
amid growing calls from Members of Parliament to impeach Gachagua, who is
increasingly isolated within the government.
The much-anticipated
impeachment motion against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua sails past the
117-signature threshold required for the tabling before the House next.
Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa, who
announced his intention to move the motion on Thursday, said he had collected
242 signatures from lawmakers in support of the bid.
Should the motion find its way
to the National Assembly, Barasa, an ally of President William Ruto, will
require 233 votes to pass.
“I am the sponsor of the
impeachment motion against the Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and so far, I
have received 242 signatures and an additional six MPs were awaiting to append
their signatures,” he told Capital News on phone.
Article 150 of the
Constitution dictates grounds for impeaching a Deputy President as gross
violation of the Constitution, suspicion for committing a crime and gross
misconduct.
Cracks between President Ruto
and his deputy has been widening by the day with the impeachment motion marking
the latest escalation after Gachagua called out the Head of State in a
televised interview on September 20.
Article 145 states that a
member of the National Assembly may move to impeach the Deputy President if at
least one-third of the members support the motion.
Upon approval fro tabling, the
mover requires 233 MPs for the motion to move to the Senate for consideration.
The Speaker of the National
Assembly is requred to notify the Speaker of the Senate which will then convene
within seven days.
In considering the motion, the
Senate may form an eleven-member special committee to investigate the
allegations.
After granting the Deputy
President audience, the committee will transmit its recommendations to the
Senate within ten days where its report will require a two-thirds backing for
the impeachment to stand.
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