A Cloud of Emotions Engulf Karen Hospital as DP is voted out of office

Githunguri Member of Parliament Gathoni WA Muchomba and former Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri were emotionally overwhelmed at Karen Hospital when they visited the former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

Gachagua was expected to return to the Senate for the afternoon session to answer his impeachment case, but his lawyer, Paul Muite, disclosed to the Senate that the DP had fallen ill. “The sad reality is that the Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya has been taken ill, and as I address you Mr. Speaker and this House, he is in hospital,” said Paul Muite.

Additionally, Paul Muite requested time from the Senate to talk to the former Deputy President's doctor and return later at 5 pm. “My proposal is that you give me the rest of the day to have an assessment of the DP situation and come back by 5 pm after seeing him and speaking to the doctor,” Paul Muite requested.

However, the Senate later took a vote and decided to progress with the motion in absentia of the former Deputy President.

At Karen Hospital, where the former DP was hospitalized, leaders allied to Gachagua were still gathering to check on him and at the same time, the Senators had taken a vote to proceed with the motion even in absentia of the former Deputy President.

Hon. Gathoni WA Muchomba condemned the Senate's decision to proceed with the motion, terming it as a lack of respect and dignity for life.

“It's quite unfortunate that politics has pushed us to the extent that we no longer respect and dignify life. The honorable thing that the Senate should have done is to allow the DP to get himself up and continue with the process,” said WA Muchomba.

Dr. Dan Gikonyo, a senior doctor at the Karen Hospital, confirmed that the former Deputy President had been admitted to the hospital and he was complaining of chest pains.

“DP Gachagua came with a lot of chest pains. He is undergoing various investigations, but right now, he is stable, and the pain is less,” said Dr. Dan Gikonyo.

Additionally, Dr Gikonyo noted that he shall keep Gachagua under close supervision for about 48 – 72 hours.

“Stress can cause heart problems, and the DP is definitely under a lot of stress. He needs to be observed between 48-72hrs minimum,” said Dr Gikonyo.

Leaders allied to the former Deputy President were, on October 17, 2024, overwhelmed with emotions during a live press briefing while addressing the media.

Hon. Kimani Ngunjiri was unable to control his emotions where he cried live on glare of the press.

He expressed his emotions using deep religious words.

“They can take all his properties, but they should not touch his heart. His heart is the Lord’s. They should not touch it at all," Ngunjiri said in tears, calling for divine intervention.

Additionally, Hon. Gathoni WA Muchomba, while unable to control her emotions, revealed that the former Deputy President had been overwhelmed by the happenings, and that’s why he had fallen ill.

“Unfortunately, the Deputy President is overwhelmed, and I guess that's why he's here,” said WA Muchomba.

She also took that opportunity to address the President, whose silence on the issues was disturbing, according to WA Muchomba.

“I want to request the president, my good friend, all these things we are seeing, you have never talked about. Maybe not saying a word shows that maybe he doesn’t have the knowledge of what is happening, but I know he does. I want to remind him of a day he went to a church in Karen where he cried because of the pain he had been shown. That same kind of pain is what is making us cry today,” said WA Muchomba.

The former DP was impeached by the Senate, where 53 senators voted in favor of the motion, compared to 13 who voted no.