Senate Speaker Amason Kingi has rejected a request from Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s legal team to block Siaya Governor James Orengo from serving as legal counsel for the National Assembly in the DP’s Senate impeachment trial.

“In reviewing the preliminary objection regarding James Orengo’s appearance, the objection is hereby dismissed,” Kingi stated.

Kingi explained that the DP’s legal team argued Orengo, as a full-time state officer, is barred by Article 260 of the Constitution from engaging in any other gainful employment.

However, Kingi pointed out that the Deputy President’s counsel failed to provide evidence supporting the claim of Orengo engaging in gainful employment.

The DP’s legal team, led by lawyer Ndegwa Njiru, had opposed Orengo’s involvement, citing his position as governor.

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Njiru argued that Orengo’s role as a public officer could lead to a conflict of interest, pointing to previous decisions where public officers were disallowed from representing clients in such proceedings.

Njiru referenced the case of Kisii Deputy Governor Robert Monda, where Speaker Kingi upheld a similar objection preventing National Assembly Majority Whip Sylvanus Osoro from representing the Deputy Governor in a Senate hearing.

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Despite these arguments, Kingi ruled that the concerns raised by the Deputy President’s team were insufficient to disqualify Orengo from representing the National Assembly in the impeachment proceedings.