Suna East Member of Parliament Junet Mohamed/FILE
Suna East MP Junet Mohamed has claimed that some Members of Parliament received money during the impeachment process of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, saying some legislators failed to put the alleged payments to good use.
Junet alleged that cash was circulating in Parliament at the time of the impeachment.
He claimed that while some lawmakers accepted the alleged payments, they had little to show for it.
"When we were impeaching former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, there was some money that was moving around in Parliament. I will say the truth, there was something moving around," Junet said.
"There are some people that received the money but have not constructed their homesteads. Impeachment does not come every day. If you got something from Gachagua's impeachment, please make your homestead well."
In a light-hearted jab directed at some of his colleagues, Junet urged them to spend their money on development projects back home rather than on lavish lifestyles in Nairobi.
"I have seen your homestead and the money you got from Gachagua's impeachment is not at par. Don't use your money with light skins in Nairobi. You are giving them money. Spend your money at home. I have not seen the impeachment bribe working here in Bungoma. That house is not on the same level with the money you received," he said.
Junet did not name any MPs he alleged received
the money, nor did he disclose the source or amount of the alleged payments.
Gachagua had earlier alleged that MPs were paid money to process his impeachment from the DP's office.
In June, the High Court upheld Gachagua's impeachment but awarded him Sh50 million in damages after finding that his rights were violated when the Senate declined to grant an adjournment sought by his legal team.
In his determination, Justice Eric Ogola held that the decision by the Senate to proceed without allowing the requested adjournment amounted to a breach of Gachagua’s rights, noting that the violation warranted constitutional compensation.
“We find that Gachagua’s rights were infringed when the Senate declined to allow an adjournment,” Justice Ogola stated.
"The Court awards constitutional damages of Sh50 million to H.E. Gachagua payable by the Senate, to vindicate the Constitution, restore the dignity of the affected party, and deter future violations."
The judge added that while the court was awarding damages for the infringement, the ruling does not invalidate the impeachment outcome itself.
“This violation constitutes both a vindication of his rights and a recognition of the constitutional infirmity but does not undo the impeachment itself,” he ruled.
The former DP moved to the Court of Appeal to challenge the High Court's decision.
