Marakwet West MP Timothy Kipchumba Toroitich has called for Speaker Moses Wetangula and the Deputy Speaker to step down from overseeing the impeachment proceedings against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. His request came during a heated parliamentary session where the impeachment motion gained significant support from MPs.

Toroitich raised concerns about the impartiality of both Speaker Wetangula and the Deputy Speaker, arguing that their previous comments on the matter suggested bias, which could undermine the fairness of the proceedings.


Addressing the Speaker, he stated, "As a neutral arbiter, Mr. Speaker, it is on record that both you and the Deputy Speaker have taken sides on this issue. To ensure the Deputy President gets a fair hearing, would it not be proper for you both to recuse yourselves from this matter?"

Despite facing overwhelming opposition in Parliament, with MPs surpassing the required 117 signatures by an additional 174 members, Gachagua was not entirely without support. Fifty-four MPs chose not to sign the impeachment motion, opting to remain on the sidelines.


Notably, Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro, a staunch ally of President William Ruto, did not appear on the list of those supporting the motion, which was met with chants of "patriot!" from the floor. A majority of MPs from Gachagua’s home county of Murang’a stood by him, as he confronts new political challenges.

Toroitich, from President Ruto’s stronghold in Elgeyo Marakwet, argued that there were insufficient grounds for the Deputy President’s impeachment.