Seasoned lawyer John Khaminwa fumes at Githu Muigai in court: ‘Sit down, I say’

• Seasoned lawyer John Khaminwa became visibly emotional when Senior Counsel Githu Muigai insisted that he follow court procedures
• Khaminwa argued that lawyers should be given enough time to present their arguments in the petition regarding defrocked Vice President Rigathi Gachagua
• He stressed that the case has had a significant impact on the country and for interested parties to find a solution, they must be given enough time to express their views.

Nancy Odindo, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, has over three years of writing experience policynews and articles across digital and print media in Kenya.

Nairobi – Seasoned lawyer John Khaminwa drew laughter from lawyers at Milimani Law Court by questioning the time allotted to lawyers arguing for the impeachment of the deposed vice president Rigathi Gachagua.

What angered lawyer John Khaminwa in court?

Counselor Githu Muigai demanded that Khaminwa follow court procedures, which stipulate that the senior counselor must speak before anyone other than the attorney general.

However, Khaminwa rejected the request and insisted that the lawyers be given enough time to present their cases, especially considering the current constitutional crisis in the country.

“Sit down, I’m still talking. I won’t sit down. While I was practicing law, you were still breastfeeding. The country is in a constitutional crisis. This is a national crisis. If I may say so with great respect, this is not an issue on which you should spend 10 or 20 minutes. NO. This is inappropriate. Let’s let these lawyers talk,” he said.

According to Khaminwa, the hearing of the case is not urgent and therefore the issue of time should not be a cause for concern.

Why should Gachagua’s impeachment case not be rushed?

He argued that lawyers needed adequate time to formulate their position because the issue of impeachment of the vice president was important.

He stressed that since discussions about impeachment began; the country is in a state of paralysis, stressing that those affected need time to heal, which can only happen if they are allowed to fully express their views.

“Forget the concept of time. Why are we in a hurry? This has paralyzed the nation, this is a serious matter. The vice president’s impeachment is no small matter. Let professors have as much time as they want. This is the healing process,” he began to explain.

Khaminwa also called for the titles used in court to be set aside and priority given to the current case.

Gachagua accuses the three-judge panel of bias

Before the hearing, Rigathi Gachagua’s legal team accused the three-judge panel of bias in its handling of his case.

They claimed that the judges met on Saturday, October 19, and set a hearing date without notifying or involving them.

Legal representatives also noted that the court initially informed them that the earliest available hearing date was October 29.

However, after the defendant’s application was submitted, a new date was quickly set and moved to Tuesday, October 22.

Additionally, they alleged that the President of the Supreme Court Marta Koome was not in the country to properly constitute himself on the jury.

What else you need to know about Gachagua’s impeachment

Proofreading by Asher Omondi, current affairs journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.

Source: TUKO.co.ke