(Bloomberg) — Kenya’s Senate resumed hearings after temporarily suspending an impeachment trial against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua after he fell ill.
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The deputy wasn’t present to testify on Thursday afternoon because he is unwell and is in the hospital, Gachagua’s lawyer, Paul Muite, said in proceedings broadcast on state television in the capital, Nairobi.
Gachagua was scheduled to testify after lawmakers brought 11 charges including pilfering public funds and stirring ethnic hate against him. He’s pleaded not guilty to all counts and called the process a witch-hunt.
A request by Gachagua’s lawyer to suspend sittings till Tuesday next week was rejected by Speaker Amason Kingi who said debate on the motion must be finished by October 19. A vote to adjourn sittings to Saturday was defeated, with lawmakers opting to complete the impeachment proceedings today.
Gachagua’s lawyers walked out in protest. “we are not able to continue appearing,” Muite told Senate.
(updates first and final paragraphs to reflect sittings have resumed.)
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