Kenya’s deputy president, who faces impeachment, has pleaded not guilty in a senate hearing to allegations including corruption, inciting ethnic divisions and support for anti-government protests that saw demonstrators storm the country’s parliament.

Deputy president Rigathi Gachagua, who has called the allegations politically motivated, could be the first sitting deputy president impeached in Kenya.

The case highlights the friction between him and President William Ruto — something that Mr Ruto once vowed to avoid after his past troubled relationship as deputy to Kenya’s previous president, Uhuru Kenyatta.

Kenya’s deputy president Rigathi Gachagua gestures to the crowd at the swearing-in ceremony for Kenya’s new president William Ruto, at Kasarani stadium in Nairobi, Kenya
Kenya’s deputy president Rigathi Gachagua gestures to the crowd at the swearing-in ceremony for Kenya’s new president William Ruto (Brian Inganga/AP)

Gachagua has said he believes the impeachment process has Mr Ruto’s blessing, and has asked legislators to make their decision “without intimidation and coercion”.

The tensions risk introducing more uncertainty for investors and others in East Africa’s commercial hub.

Court rulings this week allowed the parliament and senate to proceed with the impeachment debate, despite concerns over irregularities raised by the deputy president’s lawyers.

The impeachment motion was approved in parliament last week and forwarded to the senate.

Gachagua’s legal team will have Wednesday and Thursday to cross-examine witnesses, and the senate will vote on Thursday evening.

The senate requires a two-thirds majority to approve the impeachment motion.

Kenya Deputy President
Kenya’s deputy president Rigathi Gachagua addresses the media in Nairobi, Kenya (Brian Inganga/AP)

Under the Kenyan Constitution, the removal from office is automatic if approved by both chambers, though Gachagua can challenge the action in court — something he has said he would do.

Kenya’s president has yet to publicly comment on the impeachment process.

Early in his presidency, he said he would not publicly humiliate his deputy.

Mr Ruto, who came to office claiming to represent Kenya’s poorest citizens, has faced widespread criticism for his efforts to raise taxes in an effort to find ways to pay off foreign creditors.

But the public opposition led him to shake up his cabinet and back off certain proposals.