A Kenyan court has upheld the 2024 impeachment of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, barring him from holding public office. Three High Court judges dismissed Gachagua’s claims, including that the impeachment process was politically biased against him. The court however found that the Senate violated Gachagua’s rights when it failed to adjourn after he had fallen ill during the proceedings.
It said this did not invalidate the impeachment, but it awarded him 50m shillings ($386,000; £290,000) in compensation. Gachagua has turned into a fierce critic of President William Ruto. The ruling weakens his ambition to run for president, as impeachment bars him from holding public office.
Gachagua was not in court when the 350-page ruling was handed down, but his legal team have vowed to appeal. His dramatic removal from office followed his fallout with Ruto. An overwhelming majority of lawmakers voted for his impeachment, accusing him of corruption, inciting ethnic divisions and undermining the government.
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He challenged the impeachment, arguing that the charges were “baseless”, politically motivated and that he had been denied a fair hearing. Besides upholding Gachagua’s removal from office, the court on Monday affirmed the appointment of Kithure Kindiki to replace him. Since his removal, Gachagua has campaigned vigorously against the government, gaining a huge following in his Mount Kenya backyard.
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