Kenya’s deputy president has defended himself while facing an impeachment motion in which he's accused of supporting anti-government protests in June and of being involved in corruption and other irregularities.

Kenya's Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Thursday filed a petition to a court in Nairobi seeking to halt an impeachment process launched against him by lawmakers earlier this week, Kenyan media reported.

Supporters and opponents of Kenya’s deputy president have clashed at public forums over an impeachment motion against him, which was introduced in parliament by the ruling alliance this week.