Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has explained his absence during the vote to impeach Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua from office.

Owino said he had urgent matters affecting his constituents.

He took to his Facebook and said the impeachment of the deputy president was not a priority to him.

 “The National Assembly should have been discussing important topics including the Adani deal, the new university funding model, the Social Health Authority, the high cost of living, high taxation and unemployment,” he wrote.

He added that he will only be present in the House when motions regarding the aforementioned issues are presented.

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“You will see me in Parliament when these issues are presented but they will not bring them. I was highly engaged with other important and urgent matters affecting my constituents,” he said.

He challenged MPs to apply the same urgency and speed with which Gachagua was impeached to solve the challenges facing Kenyans.

The motion to remove the deputy president from office was tabled on October 1, sponsored by Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse.

It was debated on Tuesday and Gachagua was allowed to defend himself against the 11 grounds of impeachment.

Following the hearing, MPs were allowed to vote.

A total of 281 MPs voted in favour of the ouster motion against 44, who voted to save Gachagua’s political career.

One MP abstained from voting.

Following the vote, Gachagua issued a short statement saying, “It is well.”

Before the vote, MPs from across the political divide put a case against the deputy president, tearing into the defence he laid before the House.

Gachagua now has the Senate to save him, that is, if he manages to raise 23 senators to defeat the motion sponsored by Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse.