Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua was unexpectedly rushed to the hospital just before he was scheduled to take the stand during his impeachment hearing at the Senate.

His lawyer, Paul Muite, informed the Senate that Gachagua fell ill following a lunch break during the trial. The senators were set to vote on the 11 charges facing the Deputy President when the news broke.

Muite addressed the Senate, saying, "The sad reality is that the Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya has been taken very sick, and as I speak to Mr. Speaker and this House, he is in the hospital."

Muite did not disclose the hospital where Gachagua was taken or the nature of his illness, leaving senators in uncertainty. The unexpected development caused a stir in the Senate, with many leaders seen consulting on how to handle the situation.

Speaker Amason Kingi engaged in discussions with the Senate leaders to decide the next steps.

Following the news, Gachagua’s defense team requested time to assess his condition, with Muite proposing, "My request is that you give me the rest of the day to visit him and evaluate the situation, possibly returning by 5:00 pm to update the House."

However, the National Assembly's legal team opposed the request, emphasizing that the impeachment process was time-sensitive and should continue without delay. Despite their objections, Speaker Kingi ruled to suspend the sitting until 5:00 pm, stating, "We are facing a very unprecedented situation. My directions are as follows: we will suspend this sitting and resume at exactly 5. We expect the Deputy President to take the stand at that time. This is a time-bound process, unfortunately. It is so ordered."

Earlier in the afternoon session, Gachagua’s absence raised concerns, as he was expected to testify as his own witness in the ongoing impeachment case. Speaker Kingi remarked on the disappearance, saying, "The DP was going to take the stand. We came in here, I communicated the programme for the afternoon, and I said we are going to execute it with military precision owing to the fact that we needed to conclude business today. SC Paul Muite indicated that he cannot get hold of his client, but that is not the concern of this House. Time is running out. The floor is available to the DP and no other Senator."

The Senate now awaits updates on Gachagua’s condition as the hearing remains in suspense.