National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula strongly criticized Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's two-hour television interview on Monday, calling it "abhorrent" and inappropriate, given the ongoing impeachment motion before Parliament. Wetangula made these remarks ahead of the crucial debate, which could determine Gachagua's political future.
"I will not act as a judge in this matter, but I must put on record that the Deputy President’s conduct was, to say the least, abhorrent, especially considering the ongoing parliamentary proceedings," Wetangula remarked during Tuesday's session.
He emphasized that the National Assembly's Standing Order 85 prohibits MPs from preempting debates on motions that have been formally introduced. While Gachagua is not a member of the Assembly, Wetangula pointed out that the standing orders still apply to him due to his direct involvement in the impeachment motion.
"Standing Order 85 explicitly prohibits members of this House from preempting debate on a motion for which notice has been issued," Wetangula clarified. "When interpreted broadly, this rule applies to non-members, particularly those directly impacted by the motion."
Wetangula argued that Gachagua, as the subject of the impeachment, should have exercised greater caution and avoided the televised interview ahead of the critical debate.
"Given that the special motion is scheduled for debate and a vote today, I believe the Deputy President should have shown restraint and avoided the media interview," Wetangula added.
He also noted that Gachagua had been given an opportunity to defend himself before Parliament and should have respected the process. "It is not about whether the Deputy President has been afforded an opportunity to defend himself before this House—he has. It is about upholding decorum and respecting the parliamentary process."
During his Monday interview, Gachagua dismissed the allegations against him as baseless and politically motivated, claiming the impeachment effort was designed to damage his reputation and remove him from office. He described the impeachment motion as "the most shameful act" in parliamentary history, accusing MPs of attempting to oust a democratically elected leader based on false accusations.
The motion, which garnered support from 291 lawmakers, went through public participation across all 47 counties before being tabled for debate. Gachagua is set to appear before the National Assembly on Tuesday, where his legal team, led by renowned lawyer Paul Mwite, will present his defense.