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| Senior Counsel and Siaya Governor James Orengo |
Kenya’s best legal minds will joust in the Senate on Wednesday in the impeachment trial of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who is accused of abuse of office, and insubordination.
Senior Counsel and Siaya Governor James Orengo heads the team arguing for the removal of the DP, the Star has established.
The team arguing for the DP’s acquittal is led by Senior Counsel Paul Muite, in what promises to be a titanic legal and political battle.
Orengo will lead a team of 14 lawyers under G&A Advocates LLP in the case beginning in the Senate on Wednesday morning.
Gachagua, who is at odds with President William Ruto, faces 11 charges, including gross violation of the Constitution, gross misconduct and abuse of office.
Last week, 282 MPs voted to impeach him, setting the stage for his trial in the Senate.
Orengo is a veteran counsel who led opposition chief Raila Odinga’s legal team in the historic case in which the Supreme Court overturned President Uhuru Kenyatta’s reelection in 2017.
The Siaya governor is no stranger in the Senate, having served for two terms as senator.
Other lawyers working alongside Orengo include Paul Nyamodi, Eric Gumbo, Moses Kipkemoi, Muthomi Thiankolu, Peter Wanyama, Kenny Kipkoech and Joan Cheruto. Also on the list are Erick Mwingi, Bonface Mawira, Kevine Otieno, Alex Mboya, Kennedy Kyalo and John Mwangi.
Orengo will face off with Muite, who leads a similar number of advocates for Gachagua.
Other advocates on Gachagua’s team are Elisha Ongoya, Tom Macharia, Victor Swanya, Ndegwa Njiru, John Njomo, Faith Waigwa, Amos Kisilu, George Wandati and George Sakimpa.
Others are Andrew Muge, Eric Naibei, Julia Omwamba and Willis Echesa.
The team aims to dismantle the case by the National Assembly.
They will cross-examine witnesses for the assembly.
Gachagua faces a barrage of accusations, including money laundering, undermining the President and the Cabinet, propagating negative ethnicity and persistently bullying state and public officers.
“[There are] serious reasons to believe HE the Deputy President has committed gross economic crimes under Sections 45 (1), 46, 47A (3) and 48(1) of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act and Sections 2, 3, 4 and 7 of the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act,” according to the charges.
The one-term MP also faces charges of gross misconduct by persistently bullying state and public officers and gross misconduct by open and public insubordination of the President.
“The DP is accused of gross misconduct that is incompatible with the high calling and dignified status of the Office of the Deputy President,” Senate Speaker Amason Kingi said.
by JULIUS OTIENO