A Kenyan High Court has shut down former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s bid to overturn his impeachment, ruling that his removal from office stands.
The 3-judge panel threw out Gachagua’s claims of political bias but did fault the Senate for not pausing proceedings when he fell ill. They awarded him 50m shillings ~ $386,000 in compensation for that rights violation, but said it wasn’t enough to nullify the impeachment.
The decision also confirmed Kithure Kindiki as his replacement. For Gachagua, the ruling is a major blow — impeachment legally bars him from holding any public office, weakening his 2027 presidential ambitions.
Gachagua wasn’t in court for the 350-page ruling. His lawyers say they’ll appeal. Since his dramatic ousting last year after clashing with President William Ruto, he’s become one of Ruto’s fiercest critics and built strong support in his Mount Kenya base. Ahead of the verdict he told supporters to stay calm and “wait for next year to express anger at the ballot box.”
Gachagua’s impeachment came just months after Ruto and him were elected together in 2022. Lawmakers accused him of corruption, stoking ethnic division, and undermining the government. The fallout happened during the wave of Gen Z-led protests over tax hikes that rocked parliament and left dozens dead.
