Lawyer AHMEDNASIR ABDULLAHI blasts Speaker KINGI for allowing JAMES ORENGO to ‘bury’ GACHAGUA in the Senate

Thursday, October 17, 2024 - Lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi has blasted Senate Speaker Amason Kingi for the way he is conducting the impeachment of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

Ahmednasir took offense at Kingi's verdict to allow James Orengo to represent the National Assembly in Gachagua's impeachment proceedings.

Gachagua's legal team had sought to have Orengo, the governor of Siaya, debarred from arguing on behalf of the National Assembly.

They cited a conflict of interest given that Orengo is a state officer having been elected governor.

Making his commentary via the X social network, Ahmednasir argued that the Speaker's decision bordered on disregarding the same constitution Gachagua is accused of flouting.

The lawyer argued that the constitution clearly states that a state officer should not appear in trials to represent parties.

"The ruling by the Speaker of Senate, Hon Amason Jeffah Kingi, dismissing the objection by lawyers for Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua objecting to Hon Gov James Orengo SC representing the National Assembly is grossly offensive to the constitution and utterly shameful.”

“How can Gachagua be tried for breaching the Constitution while the Speaker of the Trial Chamber, the Senate, borrows the wise words of Justice Antonin Scalia and plays "jiggery-pokery" with a clear and unambiguous provision of the Constitution? Some things are TRANSPARENTLY STUPID!" he said.

Gachagua's lawyers argued that allowing Orengo to participate in the trial would prejudice Gachagua’s defence and violate clear legal provisions.

They noted that a precedent had already been set in a recent Senate impeachment case involving former Kisii County deputy governor Robert Monda, where a similar objection was upheld.

The Kenyan DAILY POST