Human Rights defender David Khaemba addresses the media in his office in Kakamega town on Wednesday /HILTON OTENYO
A Kakamega-based human rights defender has petitioned investigative agencies to probe allegations by National Assembly Majority Leader Junet Mohamed that lawmakers may have received money during the impeachment of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
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David Khaemba has written to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) and the Attorney General, seeking investigations into the claims.
He wants the EACC and DCI to conduct forensic financial investigations to establish whether any MPs or senators received money or other inducements to influence their votes during the impeachment proceedings.
Khaemba also wants investigators to determine the total amount allegedly distributed, the source of the funds, whether public money was involved and under whose authority any payments were released.
He further seeks investigations into whether public resources were unlawfully used and whether any offences may have been committed under the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act, the Penal Code, the Leadership and Integrity Act, or other applicable laws.
In addition, he wants investigators to establish the budgetary vote, ministry, agency, or institution from which any funds may have originated, whether the necessary financial approvals existed and whether any payments amounted to bribery, abuse of office, corruption, conspiracy, or economic crimes.
Khaemba also wants investigators to determine whether the constitutional impeachment process was improperly influenced or whether any state officers breached Chapter Six of the Constitution on leadership and integrity.
His petition follows remarks made by Suna East MP Junet Mohamed during an ODM meeting in Malava on July 26, where he claimed money circulated in Parliament during Gachagua's impeachment.
"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 who 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," he added.
Junet did not identify any MPs or senators he alleged received the money, nor did he disclose the source or amount of the alleged payments.
No evidence has so far been made public to support the claims, and none of the agencies named in Khaemba's petition had publicly responded by the time of publication.
INSTANT ANALYSIS
The petition underscores how allegations of corruption in high-profile political processes can continue to raise questions long after key decisions have been made.
If investigated, the claims could test the effectiveness and independence of Kenya's anti-corruption and criminal justice agencies in handling politically sensitive matters.
The case also highlights the influence that public statements by senior political leaders can have, especially when they touch on the integrity of constitutional processes such as impeachment.
