A lawyer representing Kenya’s Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in his impeachment trial told the Senate on Thursday that the politician was “very sick” and in hospital, after he failed to attend proceedings.

Gachagua had bee president during the morning session hearings up to 1:15pm when the Senate adjourned for lunch. He had been expected to take the witness stand for the remining time of the day before the senator made a determination.

The National Assembly voted last week to impeach Gachagua, who helped President William Ruto win an election two years ago but has been assailed by allies of the president over alleged disloyalty and a series of provocative public comments.

Gachagua was due to defend himself against the 11 impeachment charges in the Senate on Thursday afternoon, before senators take a vote on whether to remove him from office.

“The sad reality is that the deputy president of the republic of Kenya has been taken sick, very sick, and as I address, Mr Speaker, this honourable house (of) Senators, he is in hospital,” Gachagua’s lawyer Paul Muite said.

• A Tell  / Reuters report