Deputy President William Ruto’s allies have come out guns-blazing to protest a purported move to kick out Ruto from the Deputy Presidency.
During a Tuesday press conference in Parliament buildings, the group of MPs sensationally claimed that the planned impeachment is only a plot to have Raila as President Uhuru Kenyatta’s deputy.
The 16 MPs led by Ndindi Nyoro (Kiharu), Didmus Barasa (Kimilili) and Catherine Waruguru (Laikipia) further claimed that James Orengo and the Senate have no mandate to impeach the Deputy President.
Scheming to shortchange DP
“Raila is scheming day and night to impeach DP Ruto, then President Uhuru Kenyatta will appoint him as the Deputy President of Kenya. We know their plans and ready for them,” the Kiharu MP stated.
According to Article 149 of the Constitution, after a vacancy in the office of Deputy President arises, the President is required to nominate a person to fill the vacancy within fourteen days.
“The National Assembly shall vote on the nomination within sixty days after receiving it,” Article 149 stipulates.
“If a person assumes office as Deputy President under clause (1), the person shall be deemed to have served a full term as DP if, at the date on which the person assumed office, more than two and a half years remain before the date of the next regularly scheduled election,” the article notes.
However, if a person serves less than two and a half years, the Article indicates that they shall be considered not to have served a term of office as Deputy President.
Despite the Presidency’s shared ticket, the Constitution in Article 150 provides that the DP can be removed from office on the ground of physical or mental incapacity to perform the functions of the office; or on impeachment.
An impeachment similar to what the Siaya Senator is set to table in the Senate can be made on the ground of a gross violation of a provision of this Constitution or any other law.
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