to update: The Senate has ended debate on the motion to impeach Vice President Rigate Gachagwa.
Senators will vote on each of the 11 charges against the hospitalized Vice President.
If the Senate upholds the impeachment, at least two-thirds of the 67-member House of Representatives, or 45 senators, must vote in favor.
Earlier, the Senate decided to continue the impeachment trial despite the absence of Gachagua, who was hospitalized, after lawmakers rejected a proposal to postpone it until Saturday.
Vice President Rigathi Gachagwa has fallen seriously ill and has been hospitalized, his lawyer Paul Moeti informed the Senate on Thursday afternoon.
The MP was expected to give evidence in the Senate from 2.30pm on Thursday, but his lawyer informed the Senate that his client was suffering from severe chest pains and was admitted to Karen Hospital in Nairobi.
This prompted Senate President Amason Kenji to suspend the trial until 5pm when Mr Gachagwa was expected to appear as a witness.
However, at 5pm, Lawyer Moeti returned to the Senate saying his client was still ill and unable to attend. He has asked for a few days, until next Tuesday, when the Vice President is expected to be in good health and able to take the witness in his own defence.
Earlier, the Senate began its second and final day of accountability from the Democratic Party on Thursday.
The trial is taking place before the full Senate after it abandoned the process of forming an 11-member committee to investigate the accusations.
The National Assembly voted to impeach Gachagua last Tuesday, on 11 charges including corruption, undermining the government, and inciting ethnic hatred.
At the opening of the trial on Wednesday, Gachagwa stood in the Senate chamber as each charge was read aloud, and pleaded not guilty.
If the Senate upholds the impeachment, at least two-thirds of the 67-member chamber must vote in favor of the motion.
If his impeachment is approved, he will be banned from holding any public office.
The Senate is expected to discuss the proposal on Thursday evening at the conclusion of the trial before voting on it.
If impeached, Mr. Gachagua is expected to challenge the decision in court.
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