President Uhuru Kenyatta Monday said that even if NASA presidential candidate Raila Odinga wins the October 17 repeat poll, Jubilee has the numbers to impeach him in less than three months.
Even though Jubilee would be relying on the majority they command in both the National Assembly and the Senate , it is worth looking for the provisions of the constitution on impeaching a sitting president and what follows.
Article 145 of the 2010 Constitution provides that a member of the National Assembly, supported by at least a third of all the members, may move a motion for the impeachment of the President on the grounds of a gross violation of a provision of the Constitution or of any other law; where there are serious reasons for believing that the President has committed a crime under national or international law; or for gross misconduct.
If the member manages to garner the support of two thirds of all members, the National Assembly Speaker shall inform the Speaker of the Senate of that resolution within two days but
the President shall continue to perform the functions of the office pending the outcome of the proceedings.
The Speaker of the Senate shall convene a meeting of the senate to hear charges against the President Within seven days after receiving notice of a resolution from the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Senate, by resolution, may appoint a special committee comprising eleven of its members to investigate the matter.
The special committee will investigate the matter; and report to the Senate within ten days whether it finds the particulars of the allegations against the President to have been substantiated. The President shall have the right to appear and be represented before the special committee during its investigations.
If the special committee reports that the particulars of any allegation against the President have not been substantiated, further proceedings shall not be taken under this Article in respect of that allegation; or have been substantiated, the Senate shall, after according the President an opportunity to be heard, vote on the impeachment charges.
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If at least two-thirds of all the members of the Senate vote to uphold any impeachment charge, the President shall cease to hold office.
Who takes office next?
Article 146 of the Constitution states that when a vacancy occurs in the office of President, the Deputy President shall assume office as President for the remainder of the term.
This means that if at all Jubilee will successfully impeach Raila Odinga if he ascends to the presidency in the October 17 fresh election; it is Kalonzo Musyoka who will become the president for the remainder of the term by virtue of being the serving deputy president.
This would still be a win for the Nasa coalition.
MR. UHURU KENYATTA SHOULD REALLY TREAD CAREFULLY ON THESE MATTERS. THESE STATEMENTS HE KEEPS MAKING ARE SLOWLY ERODING HIS EARLIER ENDEARMENT TO THE CITIZENS OF KENYA. HE IS GAINING POPULARITY WITH THOSE WHO HAVE PERSONAL PROBLEMS WITH RAILA, BUT LOOSING IT ON THE MASSES. ALL ARE POOLING THEMSELVES IN A BASKET OF RAILAPHOBIANS. A REFLECTION OF RAILA’S HISTORY MAY SOONER THAN LATER FIND A DUMPING GROUND FOR THIS BASKET. KENYANS KNOW THE RAILA WE ARE DEALING WITH.