High turnout as Nationwide Public Participation on DP Gachagua’s impeachment motion ends

𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟮: 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆, O𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟱, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰

The two-day nationwide Public Participation exercise on the proposed impeachment of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has officially concluded.

Facilitated by the National Assembly, the exercise was conducted across all 290 constituencies and the 47 County MPs offices.

With the public consultations now complete, the next step involves tallying the submissions, which will be compiled into a report for presentation to the National Assembly on Tuesday, October 8, 2024. 

This report will play a significant role in determining Deputy President Gachagua's political future.

On Saturday, the High Court sitting in Kirinyaga ordered Parliament to expand the exercise to cover all 290 constituencies. 

Initially, the exercise was scheduled to be held on Friday, October 4, 2024 only at designated Centers in each of the 47 counties.

But following the court ruling, the Clerk of the National Assembly announced an additional day, Saturday, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, to ensure full public participation at the grassroots level.

The impeachment motion, tabled on October 1, 2024, by Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse and supported by 291 MPs, cites 11 grounds for Deputy President Gachagua's removal from office.

At the Constituency Offices, members of the public from across the country filled out a questionnaire detailing the 11 charges against Deputy Presidents, with the document made available to the participants in both English and Swahili. 

The exercise was conducted smoothly across multiple regions, including Nairobi, where Parliamentary officers engaged residents from constituencies such as Lang'ata, Dagoretti North, Starehe, Roysambu, Kasarani, Embakasi West, and Embakasi South. 

The exercise, which began at 8:00 am, concluded at 5:00 pm without any significant challenges.

In the coastal region, the process proceeded seamlessly on its second day. Constituencies such as Changamwe, Jomvu, Kisauni, Nyali, Likoni, and Mvita witnessed high public participation. Similarly, in the nearby Kwale County, residents from Matuga, Msambweni, Kinango, and Lunga Lunga constituencies actively engaged in the process, submitting their views at their respective NG-CDF offices.

Nyeri County, the home region of Deputy President Gachagua, also experienced a high turnout, with public participation taking place in constituencies such as Nyeri Town, Mathira, Mukurweini, Tetu, M Othaya and Kieni. The exercise ran smoothly, with participants filling constituency offices to voice their opinions on the Special Motion.

Nakuru County also witnessed considerable engagement, with residents from Molo, Kuresoi North, Kuresoi South, Subukia, Gilgil, Njoro, and Bahati constituencies submitting their views. In Molo, locals gathered at the NG-CDF offices in Molo Town, while residents from Kuresoi North convened at the Sachora NG-CDF Offices in the Sirikwa Police Post building. Subukia locals participated at Mwanainchi Sacco Building in Subukia Town.

The Public Participation exercise for Bomet County ended without any challenges. 

Staff of the National Assembly who were coordinating the exercise collected views from the public on the Motion from each of the county's constituencies. 

NG-CDF Halls in Sotik, Konoin, Chepalungu, Bomet Central and Bomet East were venues of the meetings. The exercise was also conducted at the Office of the area Woman Representative at Bomet town.

Deputy President Gachagua faces charges of gross violations of Articles 147(1) and 152(1) of the Constitution, including allegations of undermining the President and Cabinet, as well as obstructing the national government's effective functioning. He is scheduled to appear before the National Assembly plenary on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, to defend himself against these charges.

#BungeKE 

#PublicParticipation