Kenya’s deputy president is “very sick” in the hospital, according to a lawyer

Following his failure to appear at hearings, a lawyer for Kenya’s Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in his impeachment trial informed the Senate on Thursday that the politician was “very sick” and in the hospital.

Gachagua, who assisted President William Ruto in winning an election two years ago, was impeached by the National Assembly last week. The president’s supporters have attacked him for suspected disloyalty and a slew of offensive remarks made in public.

Before senators voted on whether to remove Gachagua from office, he was scheduled to defend himself against the 11 impeachment allegations before the Senate on Thursday afternoon.

“The sad reality is that the deputy president of the republic of Kenya has been taken sick, very sick, and as I address, Mr. Speaker, this honorable house (of) Senators, he is in hospital,” Paul Muite, Gachagua’s attorney, said.