Kenya’s Senate launches impeachment hearings against deputy president
Al JazeeraOCT 2024
Kenya High Court Suspends Deputy President's Impeachment
Above: Deputy President of Kenya, Rigathi Gachagua, addresses the media during a press conference at his official residence in Nairobi, on Oct. 7, 2024. Image copyright: Luis Tato/AFP via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
Apart from being the first time this process has been used in Kenya, the impeachment of Gachagua is constitutional — and a popular move. Presidents have historically fired their deputies once their partners become more of a liability or threat than a supporter, so this series of events was to be expected.
Narrative B
It's unlikely that removing a scapegoat such as Gachagua from office would lead to any major development for governance in Kenya — and all of the impeachment drama is distracting the country from real issues affecting Kenyans. Rather than wasting time and energy, authorities should focus on addressing more pressing concerns.