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Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has suffered a significant political setback after the High Court upheld his 2024 impeachment, effectively barring him from holding public office in Kenya. The ruling marks a major development in one of the country’s most closely watched political disputes and further complicates Gachagua’s future political ambitions, including any hopes of running for the presidency.
A three judge bench dismissed Gachagua’s petition challenging his impeachment, rejecting his claims that the process was politically motivated and biased against him. The judges ruled that the impeachment was conducted within the law and therefore remained valid despite concerns raised by the former deputy president regarding fairness and due process.
However, the court also found that Gachagua’s constitutional rights had been violated during the Senate proceedings. According to the judges, the Senate should have adjourned its sessions after Gachagua fell ill during the impeachment hearings. The court noted that proceeding with the process despite his illness amounted to a violation of his rights. Nevertheless, the judges concluded that this violation was not serious enough to invalidate the impeachment itself.
As a result, the court awarded Gachagua compensation amounting to 50 million Kenyan shillings for the infringement of his rights. While the compensation represents a partial victory for the former deputy president, it does little to change the broader political consequences of the ruling.
The court also affirmed the appointment of Kithure Kindiki as Kenya’s Deputy President, bringing further legal certainty to the leadership transition that followed Gachagua’s removal from office.
Gachagua was absent from court when the lengthy 350 page judgment was delivered. His legal team, however, quickly signaled their intention to challenge the decision, vowing to appeal the ruling in a higher court.
The former deputy president’s removal from office came after a dramatic fallout with President William Ruto. Once close political allies, the two leaders were elected together in the 2022 General Election, with their partnership playing a crucial role in securing support from the Mount Kenya region, the political stronghold of the Kikuyu community, Kenya’s largest voting bloc.
Following their political split, Gachagua became an outspoken critic of the government and President Ruto. His impeachment was supported by an overwhelming majority of lawmakers who accused him of corruption, inciting ethnic divisions, and undermining government operations. Gachagua consistently denied the allegations, maintaining that the accusations were baseless and politically driven.
Since leaving office, he has actively campaigned against the government and has continued to attract significant support in the Mount Kenya region. Ahead of the court ruling, Gachagua urged his supporters to remain peaceful regardless of the outcome. He expressed hope that justice would prevail not only for him but also for millions of Kenyans who support his political cause.
He also encouraged his supporters to channel their frustrations through the democratic process and wait for future elections to make their voices heard at the ballot box.
The ruling comes against a backdrop of heightened political tensions in Kenya. Gachagua’s impeachment followed months of public unrest, including widespread anti government demonstrations sparked by unpopular tax proposals. Although some of the proposed measures were later withdrawn, public dissatisfaction over economic challenges and rising living costs has remained a major issue in the country.
With the High Court now upholding the impeachment, Gachagua faces an uncertain political future as he prepares to pursue an appeal while continuing his opposition campaign against the government.
