NAIROBI, Kenya — The Deputy President of Kenya, currently facing impeachment, made a not guilty plea on Wednesday regarding various accusations, which include corruption, inciting ethnic tensions, and supporting protests that led to demonstrators entering the nation’s parliament.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has characterized these allegations as politically motivated and stands on the brink of potentially becoming the first current deputy president in Kenya to be impeached.

This situation underscores a growing rift between Gachagua and President William Ruto, a scenario Ruto had previously promised to avoid following his own turbulent tenure as deputy to former President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Gachagua has expressed his belief that the impeachment proceedings have the tacit approval of Ruto, and he has urged lawmakers to reach a verdict free from intimidation or coercion.

The ongoing tension introduces additional uncertainty for investors and stakeholders in East Africa’s business environment as the impeachment saga unfolds.

Recent court decisions have enabled both the parliament and the senate to continue with the impeachment discussions, despite the objections raised by Gachagua’s legal team regarding irregularities in the process.

Last week, the impeachment motion received approval in the parliament and has since been forwarded to the senate. Gachagua’s legal representatives are scheduled to cross-examine witnesses on Wednesday and Thursday, with the senate planning to vote on the matter Thursday evening.

A two-thirds majority in the senate is required to move forward with the impeachment motion.

According to Kenya’s Constitution, the removal of Gachagua from office would occur automatically if both legislative chambers approve the motion, although he has indicated his intention to contest the decision in court.

As of now, the president has not publicly addressed the impeachment proceedings, despite having previously stated that he would not seek to humiliate his deputy.

Ruto ascended to the presidency on a platform aimed at uplifting the country’s poorest citizens. However, he has faced significant criticism for his tax hikes intended to manage external debts, which ultimately led him to overhaul his cabinet and retract some of his proposals due to public pushback.