NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Kenya’s vice president faces an impeachment motion accusing him of supporting protests against the government in June and of being involved in corruption and other irregularities, has defended himself and confirmed that he will appear before parliament on Tuesday.
Rigathi Gachagua, in a televised speech on Monday, accused the lawmaker who drafted the motion of lying, calling it “shameful and sensational.” This is the first time he has publicly addressed the issues raised by lawmakers.
The vice president is expected to appear before Parliament on Tuesday afternoon, where he said he would “continue my defense for two hours.”
Proponents and opponents of Gachagua collided on Friday in public forums where public participation forms were filled out.
The vice president defended his acquisition of wealth, saying some of the properties listed in the impeachment motion belonged to his late brother. He defended the renovation costs of his official residence, saying it was in a state of disrepair and needed to be made ‘dignified’.
On Sunday, at a prayer meeting at his residence, he pleaded with President William Ruto, lawmakers and Kenyans to forgive him for all misdeeds during his tenure.
On Monday, he clarified that his apology was not an admission of guilt and dispelled rumors that he would resign.
Lawmakers are expected to debate the motion on Tuesday and vote later before it goes to the Senate.
A total of 291 lawmakers, more than the 117 required by the Constitution, signed the impeachment motion before it was introduced, but a number of them from the vice president’s region say they no longer support it after receiving opposing views from their constituents had heard.
Ruto has not yet publicly commented on the impeachment, but stated in the early days of his presidency that he would not publicly humiliate his deputy, citing the difficult relationship he had with his predecessor. Uhuru Kenyattaduring their second term.
