Kenya’s Senate has voted to oust Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in a historic impeachment vote.

The upper house has so far voted to impeach the 59-year-old on five charges out of a total of 11 against him, following two days of hearings.

Fifty-four out of 67 senators voted to dismiss Gachagua on the first count of “gross violation of the constitution”, more than the two-thirds majority required under the law.

He is the first deputy president to be removed in this manner since impeachment was introduced in Kenyas revised 2010 constitution.

A similar motion against the Deputy President was overwhelmingly approved by the lower house National Assembly last week.

Gachagua was found guilty on charges of “gross violation” of the constitution, including threatening judges and practicing ethnically divisive politics, but cleared of others including corruption and money-laundering.

Gachagua had denied all allegations against him, saying they are “politically motivated”.

Source: Qatar News Agency