Former Chief Justice David Maraga has strongly criticized the Kenyan Parliament for failing to begin the process of impeaching President William Ruto.
Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV on Tuesday, July 15, Maraga said that with the increasing public calls for Ruto to leave office before the 2027 general elections, Parliament should have already initiated the impeachment process.
Maraga, who has shown interest in challenging Ruto in the next presidential election, accused lawmakers of being controlled by the President. According to him, this is why no real effort has been made to hold Ruto accountable or push him out of office.
“Parliament has the legal authority to remove the President from office. Ruto has broken numerous parts of the Constitution,” Maraga said during the interview. “If our Parliament was actually doing its job, Ruto wouldn’t still be in office,” he added firmly.
Maraga went on to say that if the President is unwilling to resign on his own, then the only other legal way to remove him from office before the end of his term is through impeachment.
“When Kenyans chant ‘Wantam,’ what they really mean is that they want Ruto to resign. But if he won’t do that, then Parliament must take action. Are our MPs listening? Impeach this President and remove him,” Maraga challenged lawmakers.
Grounds for Impeachment in Kenya
In Kenya, the Constitution allows Parliament to impeach a sitting President on a few key grounds.
These include serious violations of the Constitution or any other laws, credible reasons to believe the President has committed a crime under either local or international law, or if the President is found guilty of gross misconduct.
Step-by-Step Process of Impeaching a President
The impeachment process, as laid out in Article 145 of the Constitution of Kenya (2010), is detailed and involves both the National Assembly and the Senate.
- Introduction of Motion:
An MP who wants to impeach the President must first prepare and submit a motion to the Clerk of the National Assembly. The motion must clearly outline the reasons and specific allegations being made. - Initial Support:
For the motion to move forward, it must be backed by at least one-third of all MPs in the National Assembly — that’s at least 117 out of the 349 total members. These MPs must sign the motion in support. - Debate and Voting:
Once the motion has been cleared by the Speaker, it is debated in Parliament. A final vote must take place within seven days. For the motion to pass, it must receive the support of two-thirds of all MPs. - Transfer to Senate:
If the National Assembly votes in favor, the matter is passed on to the Senate. The Speaker of the National Assembly informs the Senate Speaker, and the President continues with his duties as normal during this period. - Senate Review:
The Senate then has seven days to begin looking into the charges. They can choose to form a special committee of eleven senators to investigate the matter deeply. - Committee Investigation:
This committee has ten days to complete its investigation and report back to the Senate. The President has the right to defend himself during this stage — either by appearing in person or through a lawyer. This step ensures fairness and allows the President to respond to the accusations, similar to how Rigathi Gachagua was allowed to defend himself during his own impeachment case. - Senate Vote:
After the investigation, the full Senate reviews the findings and votes on each charge. If two-thirds of the senators agree with even one of the charges, the President is officially impeached and removed from office.
Ruto Responds to Ouster Calls
Despite the growing calls for him to leave office, President Ruto has remained firm. He has stated that he will run again in the next elections and has warned that the push to remove him early is a threat to Kenya’s peace and political stability.
According to him, such actions could endanger national unity and undermine democracy.
Maraga’s remarks reflect a rising political tension in the country, as more Kenyans question the leadership of President Ruto.
However, with Parliament yet to show any sign of action, it remains unclear whether an impeachment motion will materialize in the near future.
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